‘Climate Crisis Shock’ Spreads to Apple Fruit Cracking... Andong City Council to Transform Agricultural Policy Paradigm

Urban-Rural Mutual Development Research Association Launches Study
Transitioning from Compensation-Focused to Prevention and Recovery-Oriented Support System

As the climate crisis becomes an everyday risk for the agricultural sector, the Andong City Council has initiated a comprehensive redesign of its agricultural support system. The goal is to move away from a compensation-focused response and establish a sustainable support framework that encompasses prevention, response, and recovery, thereby structurally reducing the recurring damages caused by abnormal weather events.

Rural-Urban Mutual Development Research Association Kickoff Meeting

The Urban-Rural Mutual Development Research Association, a council member research group chaired by Assemblyman Kim Changhyun, announced that it held an inaugural briefing session for the "Research Service on Strengthening Agricultural Support Systems for Responding to the Climate Crisis in Andong City" on the 2nd floor of the council building on January 19.

Approximately 20 participants attended the briefing session, including members of the research association, heads of relevant departments from the executive branch, and representatives from the research service provider. They shared the direction and key tasks of the research and discussed future schedules and operational plans.

This research focuses on establishing a policy foundation to respond to the ongoing and expanding agricultural damages caused by the normalization of abnormal climate events. The aim is to review the existing recovery- and compensation-oriented support systems and develop a "full-cycle agricultural support system" that enhances proactive responsiveness and resilience for farmers at the field level.

The research association plans to analyze recent climate crisis-related agricultural damages in the Andong region, such as frequent apple fruit cracking, the spread of pests and diseases, and unstable crop yields, in order to specify its response strategies.

In particular, the key tasks identified include: ▲ diagnosing the limitations of current agricultural support policies for climate crisis response ▲ suggesting improvements to the existing agricultural disaster support and compensation systems ▲ defining the division of roles and institutional reforms between the central and local governments ▲ and developing proactive support policy alternatives tailored to local needs.

In his opening remarks, Assemblyman Kim Changhyun stated, "Agricultural damage from abnormal weather is no longer a temporary disaster, but has become a structural crisis," adding, "Through this research, we aim to lay the groundwork for a proactive and sustainable agricultural support system that works in practice, moving beyond the current recovery-centered approach."

Based on the results of this research service, the Andong City Council plans to refine policy alternatives that can support a stable agricultural production base in the era of climate crisis, and to gradually implement effective institutional improvements and field application measures.