[Korean Farmers' News Agency Reporter Kim Kyung-wook] Rice, an important staple crop and the only major agricultural produce without a self-help fund, has finally entered the "self-help fund era." The newly established Rice Voluntary Self-Help Fund Organization, a non-profit organization called the Korea Rice Industry Federation, held its inaugural ceremony at the L Tower in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, on the 17th. With this inaugural ceremony, the creation of a rice self-help fund is set to begin in earnest, and it is expected that a public-private cooperation system for innovation and development in the entire food industry, including the rice industry, will also be put into operation. The rice self-help fund originated from a consensus among industry stakeholders that a policy-based foundation is needed for them to proactively address current issues. Rice consumption has been decreasing and fluctuating.