Korean agri-food corporations have entered the procurement market of an international organization for the first time. This is the first case in which Korea's official development assistance (ODA) goes beyond food aid and is linked to agri-food exports.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said on the 14th that Korea's corporations Zeltec was selected by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as an official supplier of fortified rice kernels (FRK). FRK are artificial rice grains formed by mixing a vitamin and mineral premix into rice flour and molding it into the shape of rice; they retain the texture and appearance while enhancing nutrients.
Under this supply contract, 201 tons of domestically produced fortified rice kernels are set to be used to improve the nutrition of local refugees and vulnerable groups, together with 20,064 tons of aid rice departing for Bangladesh in Oct.
Taking the invitation of WFP procurement officers to the Global Public Procurement Market (GPPM) in Nov. last year as a starting point, the government launched the "consultative body for entry into the UN procurement market," bringing together the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Public Procurement Service, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Korea National Food Cluster Promotion Agency.
After selecting fortified rice kernels as a strategic export item, the consultative body invited food technology experts from the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide technical guidance at production sites and supported the first-ever acquisition by a domestic corporations of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition certification for UN food supplier registration, among other multifaceted efforts.
Acting Director Jeong Kyung-seok, head of international cooperation at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Going forward, we will expand the entry of our agri-food corporations into the UN procurement market not only with fortified rice kernels but also with various items such as fortified biscuits and super cereal."