야생화를 활용한 산업화 및 정원문화 활성화 기술개발 전략

Abstract

국민 소득이 높아지면 꽃 소비도 증가한다. 이에 따라 우리나라 화훼 산업도 크게 성장하여 연간 생산액이 1조 원에 이르고 있다. 그러나 시판되는 꽃의 대부분이 장미와 백합 등 외국에서 개발되어 도입된 원예품종이고 우리 고유의 자생식물이 차지하는 비중은 매우 적다.

우리나라에는 원래 다양한 식물자원이 서식하고 있으며 여기에는 상품성 높은 종들도 많다. 우리 자신이 자생식물의 가치를 인식하지 못하고 있는 동안 다른 나라에서 우리 자원을 가져다 상업적으로 이용하고 있는 실정이다.

최근 우리 야생화에 대한 국민들의 관심이 높아지는 것은 매우 다행스런 일이다. 야생화의 소박한 매력을 좋아하는 사람들이 늘고 있으며, 야생화를 활용한 예술·취미 활동, 농산촌마을 가꾸기 등 새로운 관점에서 야생화를 바라보기 시작하였다. 더구나 우리 자생 식물에는 약리 성분도 풍부하여 생물기술을 응용하면 앞으로 개발할 가치가 매우 큰 것으로 알려져 있다. 이러한 가치를 실현하기 위해 다방면에서 기술개발과 상품화 노력이 있어야 한다.

이 연구는 우리 야생화 자원의 산업화를 목적으로 국내외 활용가능한 사례를 살펴보고 야생화에 대한 국민 인식을 조사하여 앞으로의 기술개발 방향을 제시한 것이다.

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>