[Korean Farmers' News Agency, Reporter Kang Jae-nam] The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Agricultural Technology Institute (Director Ko Sang-hwan) announced that it will push forward research to improve the soil in Jeju's winter vegetable cultivation areas, which account for 90% of the nation's winter radish production and 70% of its broccoli. According to the Agricultural Technology Institute, continuous cropping in Jeju's field crop cultivation areas has led to soil acidification, a decrease in organic matter content, and severe nutrient loss, resulting in uneven growth of vegetable crops and a decline in marketability. The institute will therefore conduct research on the "Effects of Biochar Application on Vegetable Crop Growth" from this year until 2027. The institute focuses on winter radishes and other representative winter vegetables in Jeju.