(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Yoon-gu = The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 17th that it held the launch ceremony for the Korea Rice Industry Association, a rice voluntary self-help fund established this year, at the Eltower in Yangjae-dong, Seoul. In a situation where there are many tasks for the development of the rice industry, such as promoting consumption, improving quality, and strengthening competitiveness, three grain processing centers (RPC) responsible for production and distribution in producing areas have come together with the intention of creating a private-led rice self-help fund to be used for innovation and development in the food industry. In line with the private sector's efforts to create a self-help fund, the government plans to newly secure a budget of approximately 2.9 billion won to support the smooth establishment of the rice self-help fund. The Korea Rice Industry Association has set a target of creating more than 13 billion won in self-help funds next year and shared its operational vision, including strengthening industry competitiveness, stabilizing farmers' income, and contributing to food security. President Moon Byeong-wan of the Korea Rice Industry Association said, "We will do our best to ensure that the rice self-help fund becomes a focal point for cooperation among farmers, local distributors, and consumers." As the rice self-help fund has been newly created through public-private cooperation, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to establish a food industry innovation strategy that covers the entire process of production, distribution, and consumption to ensure that this change leads to innovation in the entire industry. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to create an industry structure where demand drives production and, based on this, to promote improvements in the self-sufficiency rate of food and the added value of the industry. Mr. Byun Sang-moon, the Director of Food Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "This launch ceremony is the starting point for the public and private sectors to join forces to design the future of the rice industry and share development strategies" and "As the rice self-help fund is a new model of cooperation between the private sector and the government in food policy, I ask for the attention and participation of many industry stakeholders to ensure the successful operation of the rice self-help fund." ykim@yna.co.kr