SK Inno Supports Garlic Farmers Facing Price Collapse Through Social Safety Net

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] SK Innovation has taken direct action to support the sales of local agricultural products facing difficulties in distribution as part of building a social safety net.

To this end, SK Innovation announced that it will use the infrastructure and systems it possesses to directly and indirectly support sales, sharing the pain of farmers struggling to secure sales channels amid increased garlic production during the harvest season, sluggish consumption, and the overlapping impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). This social safety net initiative gains additional significance as it is carried out in a form created together by the company and its members.

SK Innovation decided to support farms by purchasing, selling, and promoting the consumption of Yukjjok garlic from the Seosan region, which is famous for this type of garlic. Seosan, known for its Yukjjok garlic, has been severely affected as the annual garlic festival was not held this year due to COVID-19. According to local sources, 1,144 tons of garlic harvested from 83.4 hectares of cultivated land were discarded last month. Seosan is also the location of SK Innovation’s domestic battery production plant.

First, SK Innovation plans to include Seosan farm garlic in the menus of employee cafeterias at its headquarters in Jongno, Seoul, the Seosan battery business site, and other business locations. The cafeteria operators have sympathized with this purpose and have cooperated without hesitation, providing full support.

To ensure the social safety net operates continuously, SK Innovation has prepared various measures. From the 29th, Yukjjok garlic from Seosan will also be sold on 'Hi Market,' a member-participation social safety net exclusive mall launched to support social enterprises and social ventures facing management crises due to COVID-19.

For this purpose, a separate space was set up at the 'Hi Market Showcase' held at the headquarters building on the 22nd, where a Yukjjok garlic booth was operated. The purpose of helping farms was explained to members, and they were able to directly observe the efficacy and quality of Yukjjok garlic.

Furthermore, SK Innovation plans to invite farmers to the headquarters building early next month to hold a marketplace and sell Seosan Yukjjok garlic to citizens and members. In addition, the purchased Yukjjok garlic will be delivered to vulnerable groups such as elderly people living alone.

Im Soo-gil, Head of Public Relations at SK Innovation, said, "The principle of the social safety net is sincerity and sustainability based on corporate systems and member participation. Following this principle, we are supporting garlic farms facing a structural crisis caused by increased production and decreased consumption." He added, "SK Innovation will continue to evolve and develop as a social safety net that identifies various pain points in our society and works together to address them."