13 Institutions Including National Institute of Biological Resources to Share Native Plant Resource Big Data... "Enhancing Bioindustry Competitiveness"

[Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] On the afternoon of the 3rd, 13 institutions including the National Institute of Biological Resources and the National Institute of Ecology under the Ministry of Environment, the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences under the Rural Development Administration, and the National Marine Biodiversity Institute under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries signed a business agreement at the Government Sejong Convention Center with the Korea Bio Association and the Korea Seed Association to expand the industrial use of big data on life information of native plant resources on the Korean Peninsula.

With the enforcement of the Nagoya Protocol, an international agreement containing guidelines for sharing benefits arising from the utilization of biological resources, claims on genetic resources rights are being strengthened, increasing the importance of native plant resources and life information. To enhance the industrial utilization of native plant resources, it is essential not only to preserve physical resources but also to secure genome digital big data, which is the biological blueprint.

Previously, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Rural Development Administration, and the Korea Forest Service established the "Strategy for Building Big Data on Life Information of Native Plant Resources on the Korean Peninsula."

The government plans to expand the life information big data of 1,317 native plant species and over 320,000 specimens from 1% (46 species) as of April this year?compared to 8,073 plant resources held in Korea?to 16% (1,035 species) by 2032. By discovering over 800 genes and materials, it aims to lay the foundation for creating new growth engines in the advanced bioindustry.

Through this business agreement, government-affiliated and subordinate institutions will secure domestic native plant resources and build and provide life information. Industries will use this information to secure materials for bio-product development and promote the development of bio-materials based on life information.

Additionally, by collecting industry opinions, the life information big data of native plant resources necessary for bio-product commercialization will be provided to help industries reduce patent royalties and increase productivity.

Furthermore, government-affiliated and subordinate institutions participating in this business agreement will start building a public-private cooperation system, regularly gather opinions through life information utilization briefings for the industry, and continue efforts to revitalize the bioindustry.

Park Jin-young, Director of the Biological Resources Research Department at the National Institute of Biological Resources under the Ministry of Environment, said, "By sharing life information of our native plant resources, we will enhance the competitiveness of the bioindustry, which faces high patent royalty burdens due to resource imports."