International Symposium on Unstable World Grain Prices 
and Food Security

  The Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) hosted an international symposium on June 30 at Seoul Plaza Hotel to discuss issues related to unstable world grain prices and food security. In his opening speech, KREI President Oh Se-Ik said, "Due to the deepening instability of grain supply in the world market, world grain prices are fluctuating wildly recently. Therefore, we are holding this symposium so that domestic and foreign experts can find ways to cooperate and deal with the problem." Following the speech, Kim Jong-Hoon, policy advisor of the Ministry of Agriculture, delivered a congratulatory message. 

   The first session of the symposium was held under the theme of 'world food supply outlook and food security strategy.' During the session, presentations were made by FAO economist Kisan Gunjal (world food supply trend and outlook), Franck Galtier, researcher of the French agricultural research organization CIRAD, (the need for public policy to stabilize food prices) and Professor Lim Song-Soo of Korea University (the link between free trade and food security). Following the presentations, discussions were held presided by Professor Sung Jin-Keun of Chungbuk National University. The panelists were Ahn Byeong-Il, professor of Korea University, Chun Chan-Ik of Nonghyup Economic Research Institute, and Park Dong-Gyu, senior researcher of KREI.  

   The second session of the symposium was held under the theme of 'response to the recent world grain crisis and food security in Northeast Asia, and presentations were made by Hongxing Ni, director general of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, (grain supply trend and food security in China) and Sung Myung-Hwan, KREI senior researcher (grain trade and cooperative measures for food security in Northeast Asia). Following the presentations, discussions were held presided by Lee Tae-Ho, professor of Seoul National University. The panelists were Kisan Gunjal, Franck Galtier, and KREI senior researcher Kim Tae-Gon.