Governor Park Soo-hyun Holds Discussion with Experts and Chestnut Growers on Ways to Advance the Chestnut Industry

 
Chungnam Province has joined forces with relevant organizations and experts to overcome the "triple crisis" facing the chestnut industry, a pillar of the local forestry economy: the aging of cultivation farmers, the aging of chestnut trees, and soil acidification.

On the 28th, the province held the "Chungnam Chestnut Industry Advancement Discussion" in the provincial government's main conference room. The event brought together around 50 attendees, including Governor Park Soo-hyun, professors and experts in related fields, forestry division heads and forestry cooperative heads from Gongju, Buyeo, and Cheongyang, as well as representatives from the Korea Chestnut Growers Association.

This discussion was organized to overcome complex challenges—such as labor shortages in the forestry field, deteriorating production infrastructure, and declining productivity due to climate change—and to seek sustainable chestnut industry development plans to be pursued over the next decade.

During the event, Hwang Myung-soo, an advisor to the Korea Chestnut Growers Association, delivered a special lecture titled "Innovative Strategies to Secure the Future Sustainability of the Chestnut Industry Facing Three Major Crises," presenting field-oriented innovation tasks.

Following the lecture, participants discussed core issues and countermeasures across four major fields: production and infrastructure, youth and labor, distribution and processing, and policy and research and development (R&D).

Key topics included:

Efficient and phased renewal of aging chestnut trees and support for soil improvement
Mechanization of tasks such as mowing, pest control, and harvesting
Influx of young foresters and establishment of a mentoring system for succession by existing farmers
In addition, the discussions focused on establishing a virtuous cycle connecting "production-labor-distribution-R&D" beyond simple support, which encompassed:

Expanding joint sorting, storage, and processing facilities and developing high-value-added brands
Strengthening climate change response superior variety distribution and field-demonstration R&D
Governor Park Soo-hyun stated, "Chungnam's chestnuts are a core specialty product supporting our regional forestry economy and a source of pride representing the status of South Korea's forestry. The current crises of aging growers, aging chestnut trees, soil acidification, and climate change are difficult to resolve through the efforts of individual farms alone."

He emphasized, "We will build a four-stage innovative virtuous cycle system leading to production infrastructure innovation, youth influx and labor acquisition, high-value-added distribution and processing, and field-customized R&D. We will actively reflect the on-site difficulties and suggestions presented today into our policies to implement practical measures that both residents and foresters can truly experience."