The National Gunsan University RISE Project Team (led by Director Jang Min-seok) announced that they held a ceremony for the appointment of the 'Soybean By-product Living Lab Project Operating Committee' at the Industry-Academia Cooperation Building on September 4th.

The appointment ceremony was organized for the discussion and resolution of key issues related to the Living Lab project utilizing the Gunsan region's specialty soybean, 'Hayoungkong.' Experts representing industry, academia, research institutes, and government agencies were appointed as committee members.

The committee members included Professors Yoo Hyun-hee, Heo Jun-wook, Lee In-a, and Lee Seung-han from Gunsan University, Kim Mi-jeong from Gunsan City Hall, Jeong Eun-seon, Senior Researcher at Jeonbuk Bio-Convergence Industry Promotion Institute, Yang Jae-sik, CEO of The Planit, and Yoon Ji-hyun, Research Director at Pat Al.

This project is being pursued in line with the policy trend to diversify the production structure away from rice-centric agriculture and to support the expansion of low self-sufficiency grain cultivation. It aims to link soybean by-products with the green, red, and white bio-industries to increase income and create added value for local farmers.

The project, with a total budget of 1 billion won over 5 years, is being supported by Gunsan City with an annual matching fund of 60 million won. The RISE Project Team plans to strengthen cooperation with various local organizations following the establishment of this committee.

Professor Yoo Hyun-hee stated, "Soybean by-products are an important resource for discovering the future food sources of Gunsan," and expressed confidence that they could also contribute to the development of local agriculture and seafood processing industries.