| dc.description.abstract | Wildflowers are plants growing wild, meaning they are not intestinally seeded or planted. Characterized by typical four seasons and lots of mountain area, Korea has various wildflowers considering relatively small land size. However, lacking systematic survey and research, it hasn’t utilized such affluent natural resources. Rather, the commercialized breeds based on domestic wildflower resources developed overseas are imported.
As income growing, peoples’ interest on nature and natural healing grows, and the interest on wildflowers as well. If we can industrialize the wildflowers in areas of gardening, landscaping, hobby and sightseeing, we can not only save the money being paid for imported flower species but also benefit the farmers with better income. Especially, small and artless wildflowers have lots of potentials in urban landscaping and gardening.
The purpose of the study is to develop the step by step policy schemes to industrialize the wildflowers and to expand garden culture. For this, we searched the domestic and international cases to commercialize wildflowers, surveyed the members of the Native Plants Growers Association to understand the supply side, and surveyed the people to know the demand side. The results of the surveys and the followed SWOT analysis were used in developing policy schemes of the National Arboretum to industrialize the wildflowers and to expand garden culture.
Domestically wildflowers are used for space design, flower arts, processed products (cosmetics, food, and medicine), local culture and festivals. From the survey on community garden and public farm in the US, flower theme garden in Japan, and various flower festivals in Europe we could identify much broad wildflower usages and supporting policies. From the survey on producers, we verified the obstacles in wildflower industry growth. They include shortage of labor; small business size with various products; lacks in production technique; limited markets; and lacks in consumer perception.
According to the survey on the demand side, people purchase wildflowers less often than other plants or flowers. People perceive that wildflowers are difficult to grow. More than 80% of people have experienced flower festivals. Among the processed products using wildflowers cosmetics and foods are most common to people. In flower market, most of wildflowers are less competitive than rose, freesia, and tulips. Though small number of wildflowers such as lily of the valley, dicentra, Korean Pasque Flower, aceriphyllum rossii has some potential to compete with exotic species.
The policy schemes have two hierarchies, which are four basic targets and the fourteen actions to reach the targets. The four basic targets are ① more field research, expansion of supply infrastructure; ② building the infrastructure to expand garden culture; ③ making the wildflower area closely; ④ building the industrializing foundation of wildflower and garden culture. The actions underneath the first target are 1) strengthening the survey and research on wildflower resource information; 2) strengthening the infrastructure to supply and educate wildflower. The actions to reach the second target are 3) developing the garden model and organizing the management skill; 4) forming public gardens; 5) developing and providing garden education program. The actions for the third target are 6) more planting wildflowers in living area; 7) composing a national movement to garden; 8) building and managing Korean style gardens in domestic and overseas. The actions for the last target are 9) creating the value from the research on efficacy, seed, and production of wildflowers; 10) developing a sightseeing item specialized for wildflower; 11) more wildflower growers; 12) promoting the downstream and upstream industry of wildflower; 13) more cultural interest with storytelling; 14) developing easily usable wildflower related products and easily applicable flower arts. The whole plan of policy schemes is structured to proceed from 2014 to 2018 during 5 years.
Researchers: Kyung-Taek Min, Ja-Choon Koo, Ho-Gun Chong, Myeong-Eun Kim, Chul-Kyun Yim
Research period: 2014. 4. - 2014. 5.
E-mail address: minkt@krei.re.kr <mailto:minkt@krei.re.kr> | - |
