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Korea Rural Economic Institute has chosen the research theme for 2011: development of small but strong agro-food industry and revival of rural economy through rural-urban exchanges. In line with the main research theme, the following topics are chosen for basic research: increase of value added through systemic combination of agriculture, forestry, and food industry based on eco-friendly green technology; construction of a safe and reliable supply system for agro-food products in step with the changing consumer trend that places more emphasis on value than price, and strengthening the value of agro-food products; support of local policy development to revive local economy and effective implementation of farm policy; search for various ways to increase income at community level and promote stable rural life through systematic assistance of multi-cultural families and people in need; provision of support to the international community in commensurate with the size of the Korean economy; and international cooperation and development in preparation for uncertainty such as supply imbalance of agro-food products and agricultural negotiations.
The major research topics for 2011 are aimed at achieving the central government's goal of stabilizing prices for the general public. The research topics are "policy system restructuring to improve distribution in production areas," "construction of a price stabilization system for fruits and vegetables," and "construction of a distribution system for livestock products and foods to stabilize prices," all of which are related to the distribution system of agricultural products. The research projects titled "an analysis of the effect of product origin labeling of agro-food products and ways to improve its usage" and "operational status of the geographical indication system and the development direction to promote specialized local industries" are expected to contribute to strengthening the value of local agricultural products by suggesting policies to differentiate local agro-food products and directions to develop specialized local agro-food industries.
The research project titled "the current situation of multicultural families' social acclimatization in rural areas and policy tasks" is expected to contribute greatly to implementing rural welfare policies by suggesting effective measures to improve policies for social acclimatization of multicultural families in rural areas. In order to find cultural industries that have gained attention as growth engines in rural areas, a research on the current state of cultural industries in rural areas and ways to develop the industries will be conducted. Also, the research projects titled "policy evaluation and ways of development to revive the rural economy" and "development of social enterprises to create jobs and revive rural areas" are expected to contribute to reviving the rural economy by suggesting ways to create jobs at the local level and increase the value added.
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