Chungcheongbuk-do Province (North Chungcheong Province) is the nation’s only landlocked province, situated inland and away from the three coasts of the Korean Peninsula.
Among its neighboring counties, Goesan-gun County is nestled almost in the middle of the province and is gifted with topographic features that are almost entirely mountains and hills, covering an area of 842 square kilometers, larger than Seoul’s mere 605 square kilometers. However, the county has a vastly lower population of just around 37,000. The region is a typical rural area where people harvest agriculture, mainly cabbage, corn and chili peppers.
The county is now going organic as it tries to seek the further development of its agricultural industry. The county has changed its course toward organic farming to take better advantage of its abundant natural resources, surrounded by 38 officially listed mountains, dense forests and rich water & mineral resources. Farmers here have chosen not to use any chemical fertilizers or agricultural pesticides. Instead, they have chosen to become eco-friendly, escaping from the vicious cycle of strong chemicals that only ends up building the amount of local pollution.
지난 The International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR) hosts the 2015 Goesan International Organic Expo, a world first, on Sept. 18.
Participants in the ISOFAR Organic 3.0 Scientific Symposium, part of the 2015 Goesan International Organic Expo, pose for a photo on Sept. 20.
In line with these steps, Geosan-gun County hosted the world’s first 2015 Goesan International Organic Expo under the theme of “Organic Life, Science Meets the Public.” Opening on Sept. 18 and jointly run by the county and the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), the expo has garnered much attention both at home and abroad and will run until Oct. 11. The event brings together some 264 businesses involved in organic farming from 26 countries, including the U.S., Japan and Germany.
Visitors browse the exhibits at the 2015 Goesan International Organic Expo and observe first-hand how some products can be grown using organic farming techniques.
The expo features booths and stalls that introduce crop rotation, how to raise stock and gardening methods that all use organic farming methods. There are also programs that spotlight medical care and skin care that uses organic products. On top of that, sideline events, such as the ISOFAR Organic 3.0 Scientific Symposium that took place between Sept. 20 and 22, allows experts from around the world to come together and to share their thoughts on the path of the organic farming industry worldwide and how to further develop the sector.
The expo is open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. every day. Tickets can be purchased both on-site and online at Auction (http://www.auction.co.kr/) or at G Market (http://bit.ly/1KNs3tH).
For more information, please click the link below.
www.2015organic-expo.kr
By Wi Tack-whan, Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Chungcheongbuk-do Province
whan23@korea.kr
