ISHS Acta Horticulturae 483: International Symposium on Vegetable Quality of Fresh and Fermented Vegetables
WELCOMING ADDRESS |
| Author: | B. Lee |
| Abstract:
Dear Dr. Hong-Suk Lee, the President of the Korean Association of Science Societies for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Dr. Ryozo Sakiyama, Professor of Tokyo University and the Past President of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), Dr. Carlos Portas, Chairman of the Vegetable Section of the ISHS, Dr. Marcel Herregods, Chairman of the Post-Harvest Commission of the ISHS, all participants from around the world who will present outstanding papers during this symposium, and ladies and gentlemen who share their time with us to enhance the prestige of this symposium! It is my great honor as the president of the Korean Society for Horticultural Science to give you the welcoming address and special thanks for your participation and contribution. First, I would like to point out that the per-capita consumption of marinated and fermented vegetables in Korea is ranked top in the world. Since the fermented vegetable 'Kimchi' is a unique Korean product, it is especially meaningful to host this international symposium in Korea with its theme of 'Quality of Fresh and Fermented Vegetables'. There has been rapid growth in the Korean horticultural industry, and total production is now accounts to over 11 billion US dollars per annum. This horticultural industry output includes 38% of total agriculture and forestry production, and 51% of total field crop production. Total vegetable production is worth 7.3 billion US $ per annum now, and rise continuously for the time being. This rapid development of Korean horticultural industry is mainly due to an increase in demand for horticultural products both in amount and quality, which is tied to rapid growth of the Korean economy, generally. It also may be attributed to an increase in the supply of skilled man-power, resulting from increases in number of agricultural schools, technical colleges, and universities over the past 30 years. College professors and research staff in public and private research institutes have also continuously devoted themselves to the development of new theories and new techniques in breeding, production technologies, and also farm management. These efforts and results have been applied to the field, where extension specialists used them to advise the farmers to improve production. The farmers' attitude to the adoption of new cultivars and technologies also has contributed to the development of the Korean horticultural industry. A systemic relationship between researchm, education, extension, and finally production personnel has also contributed to bringing the horticultural industry to its' current level of development. The Korean Society for Horticultural Science (KSHS) was established in 1963, when it was separated from the Korean Agronomy Society. Even with its short history, our society has progressed with the rapid development of the Korean horticultural industry, and has now become the biggest and the leading society among the many agriculture related societies in Korea. The number of registered members surpasses 1,5000, and over 600 papers are reported annually at two congresses. Six journals, 2 proceedings, and 4 newsletters are published each year. In order to import newly developed information and techniques from other countries, world famous experts continue to be invited for special lectures annual congresses twice a year and symposia. Recently, the KSHS has been actively seeking efforts to host the 2006 ISHS Congress meeting n Korea. This is because the year 2006 is the 100th anniversary of the introduction of modern agriculture into Korea. Our goals in wanting to host are, first, to acknowledge the contributions of developed coutries of their horticultural technologies during the development of Korean agriculture, and especially of Korean horticulture. Seondly, we seek to energize Asian horticulture upon which enormous populations rely for food. Finally, we hope to promote the collaboration of Western and Eastern horticulture in the ongoing development of worldwide horticultural research and promotion activities. We cordially would like to request your support to help us to host the 2006 IHC in order to realize these goals. Besides the authors of the papers for their outstanding contributions, I would like to give my special thanks to many supporting institutions and companies for thier administrative and financial support. Also we are grateful for the contribution of Dr. Jung-Myung Lee of Kyung Hee University, and his colleagues and students for their efforst in planning, organizing, and managing this symposium. I hope this symposium will be of great help for all of us to get to know each other and to exchange valuable information.
For those among you who have come here from other countries, I hope you will enjoy your stay in Korea and also travel safely back to your homes.
Thank you very much. The Organizing Committee is greatly indebted to the following industrial companies, organization, firms, and individuals for their financial support of this symposium. Korea Seed Association We also would like to express our sincere thanks to Dr. & Miss Kim, Sung-Eun, Miss Bang, Hae-Jeen, and the rest of the graduate students at Kyung Hee University in particular, and at Korea University, Kangwon National University, and Seoul National University, for their help in preparing and carrying out this symposium, and in the preparation of excellent proceeding and this Acta Horticulturae. | |
