Rural Development Administration Administrator Cho Chae-ho speaks during the opening ceremony of Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture's workshop with representatives from 22 countries at The Plaza hotel in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Rural Development Administration

Representatives from 22 countries that have received training and guidance from agricultural experts of the Korean government gathered in Seoul to showcase their achievements.

They are meeting with Korean officials to discuss strategies for further developing the agritech-based diplomatic network, according to the Rural Development Administration (RDA) on Tuesday.

Developing countries in Asia, Africa and Central America, which have worked with the RDA's Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) initiative, dispatched envoys to Seoul for a two-day visit.

Government officials from the countries, ambassadors from Korean embassies from the participating countries and agricultural experts who have engaged in KOPIA's official development assistance works have gathered.

RDA Administrator Cho Chae-ho greeted the guests, who approximately numbered 100, while UN World Food Programme Seoul Global Office President Han Seok-jin and officials from the RDA and the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, delivered speeches about KOPIA 2.0, the second phase of the KOPIA initiative that is aimed at pushing for more advanced agritech innovation.

Nguyen Hong Son, chief of the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Science, was among the event's keynote speakers.

Vietnam is where the RDA established its first KOPIA center overseas in 2009.

During the event, marking the 15th year of KOPIA, officials from Pakistan, Ghana and Paraguay shared their achievements in developing new crops with consistent production yields, thanks to the support of the RDA. Also, an official from the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council described how they have developed disease-free potato seeds.

From Ghana, an expert from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research shared a story about the Rice Seed Production Improvement for Africa (RiceSPIA) initiative, part of the Korean government's K-Rice Belt Project, which develops ideal rice seeds specific to the soil conditions in these developing countries.

Workers at the National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad in Pakistan check disease-free seed potatoes, January 2022. Courtesy of Rural Development Administration

An official from the Paraguayan Institute of Agrarian Technology spoke about how the country's production of sesame seeds has opened a new way for the South American country's agricultural industry.

Envoys from the rest of the participating countries also shared how KOPIA's ODA projects have helped each of their countries. The speakers explained how KOPIA has led each of their countries into developing new policies, introducing new local brands and finding new needs for further agritech strategies for local communities.

"On top of KOPIA marking the 15th anniversary of its kickoff this year, we're thrilled to see that agriculture has bound us all together," Yoo Eun-ha from the International Technology Cooperation Center under the RDA's Technology Cooperation Bureau said. "Through the achievement reports we've seen today, I hope we can find our global alliance tighter than ever."

During the event, Pakistan and Mongolia each signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the RDA on obtaining KOPIA's support and guidance. Ecuador, meanwhile, signed another MOU with the RDA on joining the Korea-Latin America Food & Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KoLFACI).

The guests from overseas on Wednesday plan to witness the sites of Korea's latest agritech research and development at the RDA's office in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, where the Korean authority exhibits technologies on farming, smart greenhouses and agricultural machines.

The RDA launched KOPIA in 2009 to help nations overcome poverty and end starvation, which are among the United Nations' 17 sustainable development goals.