Korea Food Promotion Institute pushes to create an ecosystem for domestic soybean alternative foods

(Iksan=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Jinbang = The Korea Food Industry Cluster Promotion Agency announced on the 25th that it will actively promote the creation of a plant-based alternative food ecosystem centered around the Food Tech Research Support Center, based on domestic soybeans.

Scheduled to be completed in 2026, the Food Tech Research Support Center in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, will be the nation's first specialized support facility in the field of plant-based alternative foods, supporting farms and companies based on facilities for separating proteins and tissue formation through extrusion molding using domestic soybeans.

The center plans to convert 5% of the soybean cultivation area in North Jeolla Province to dedicated varieties for alternative foods, strengthening the stable supply and demand base for domestic raw materials.

Additionally, it plans to lead industry innovation through the operation of a professional training program, sharing food tech technology and linking with agri-food venture funds, and building a network of domestic and international academic, industrial, and research experts.

Kim Deok-ho, Director of the Food Promotion Institute, said, "The Food Tech Research Support Center will become the core hub of the high-value-added alternative food industry utilizing domestic soybeans," and "We will create a symbiotic ecosystem where companies and regions grow together."