On November 4, the Sejong City Agricultural Technology Center (Director Pi Ok-ja) announced that it has signed a strategic business agreement with the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science and SimplePlanet Co., Ltd., at the center's headquarters.

This partnership aims to strengthen cross-sector collaboration for the stable production and industrialization of Girincho (Sedum kamtschaticum, commonly known as stonecrop), a medicinal plant native to South Korea, as a functional health ingredient for sleep support.

Through this agreement, the Agricultural Technology Center will leverage ongoing research achievements related to Girincho to expand production infrastructure, ensure a steady supply of raw materials, and drive commercial product development.

Since 2023, the Agricultural Technology Center has been collaborating with the Rural Development Administration (RDA) and local farms to conduct test cultivation of Girincho. Currently, the center operates a 0.5-hectare pilot cultivation complex.

Starting next year, the center will also work alongside SimplePlanet Co., Ltd., to establish a reliable supply chain of raw materials necessary for the commercialization of health functional ingredients.

"We will dedicate our efforts to securing a stable supply of raw materials for industrialization by utilizing our local Girincho pilot cultivation infrastructure," said Director Pi Ok-ja. "Successfully commercializing Girincho as a high-value regional specialty crop is expected to significantly boost the income of local farmers."

[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]