The term 'urban agriculture' is used in many countries around the world, but the definition varies from country to country.
In addition, there is no international organization to develop and spread urban agricultural research and industry internationally.
Korea is the only country in the world to have a state-established urban agriculture promotion law, and has established a national research organization called Urban Agriculture Division at the National Institue of Horticultural and Herbal Science of the Rural Development Administration.
In addition, recently (2018), a new independent urban agricultural research building has been built to have a research infrastructure.
so
1
To discuss the definition of urban agriculture internationally, 2
To determine the field and scope of urban agricultural research3
To share urban agricultural research and information with each other4
To promote mutual exchange of researchers5
To develop urban agriculture-related industries
We would like to propose the establishment of the International Urban Agricultural Research Center in the Urban Agriculture Division of the Rural Development Administration of Korea.
Definition of urban agriculture and similar terms used in Korea
| terms
| English notation
| Definition
|
|
Urban agriculture |
Urban agriculture |
Urban agriculture refers to an act aimed at hobbies, leisure, learning, or experience by utilizing land, buildings, or various living spaces in urban areas |
| Agro-healing |
Agro-healing |
It refers to an industry that creates social or economic added value through the use of various agricultural and rural resources used to restore, maintain, and promote the health of the people and related activities. |
|
Urban horticulture
|
Urban horticulture |
It is a gardening that aims to create a pleasant environment, provide food, and improve the quality of life through horticultural activities and horticultural experiences by urban consumers
|
| Horticulture for living or Life horticulture
|
Horticulture for living or Life horticulture |
It is a gardening activity to improve the quality of life in the process of cultivating and enjoying flowers, vegetables, fruits in a living space such as home and office.
|
| Horticultural therapy
|
Horticultural therapy |
It is a process of using plants and horticultural activities to improve the body, mind, and soul by improving a person's social, educational, psychological, and physical adaptability.(Definition of the American Horticultural Therapy Association)
|
Introduction of the development process of urban agricultural research in Korea.
Research (R&D) on urban agriculture in Korea began in the late 1990s when horticultural therapy was introduced before laws or civic groups were created.
Since 2000, as the people's interest in improving the quality of life has increased, the term ‘well-being’ has emerged and the ‘LOHAS culture’ has begun to spread.
Since 2004, the Rural Development Administration has established a flower-use laboratory in Flowers division and started researching air purification plants and horticultural therapy for consumers.
Until now, the Rural Development Administration had been conducting all research centered on producers.
The start of urban agriculture was the beginning of expanding the customers of the Rural Development Administration from agricultural producers to the people, that is, consumers.
Since then, the name of the professional laboratory has been changed to urban horticultural laboratory and living horticultural laboratory
| Sortation
|
Beginning period
(before 2007)
|
Introductory period
(2007-2010)
|
Depevloping period
(after 2010)
|
| Name of the institution |
Flower Utilisation lab
(2004) |
Urban Horticulture Lab
(2007) |
Life Horticulture Lab
(2009) |
Urban Horticulture Research Team(2010) |
Urban Agricultural Research Team(2013) |
Department of Urban Agriculture Research(2015) |
| Related organizations |
ㆍEstablishment of the Human Plant Environment Association
ㆍEstablishment of the Korean Horticultural Therapy Research Association |
ㆍEstablishment of the Korean Society for Urban Agriculture |
ㆍEnactment of the Urban Agriculture Act
ㆍEstablishment of a private organization |
ㆍFive-year urban agriculture promotion plan (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) |
ㆍRevision of the Enforcement Decree of the Rural Development Act |
2010년 4월 1일 화훼과에서 분리되어 도시원예연구팀으로 확대 개편되었다. 개편되면서 정원을 주로 연구하는 도시녹화 연구가 도입되어 도시녹화연구실, 환경개선연구실, 사회원예연구실 3개 전문연구실로 운영되었다. 2012년 5월 도시농업법이 시행된 계기로 도시원예에서 도시농업연구팀으로 개편(2013년 4월 1일)되어 연구 범위가 확대되었다. 도시농업으로 확대되면서 2014년 1월 1일 텃밭 연구를 중심으로 하는 생활농업연구실이 신설되어 환경개선, 도시녹화, 사회원예 4개 전문연구실을 두고 다양한 관련분야의 연구를 수행하였다.
2015년 도시농업연구팀에서 도시농업과로 정규직제로 편제 되어, 2017년 5월 31일 행정자치부로부터 한시조직 평가를 통해 정식 과로 승격되었다. 과로 승격되면서 2017년 7월 1일 조경 연구를 도입하기 위해 환경개선과 도시녹화를 합쳐 환경조경연구실, 사회원예 연구의 공간을 도시에서 농촌지역까지 확대하여 치유농업으로 개편하여 환경조경연구실, 치유농업연구실, 생활농업연구실 3개 전문연구실로 개편하였다. 2020년 3월 6일 치유농업법이 국회 본회의를 통과하여 도시농업연구는 또 한 번 도약을 기다리고 있다.
