친환경농자재 산업 실태와 정책과제

Abstract

우리나라를 포함한 세계는 지금 지속가능한 농업으로의 전환을 추진하고 있다. 국제적으로는 UN SDGs와 유럽의 그린딜 등을 통해 농업 생산의 부정적 영향을 줄여 환경적으로 건전하고, 경제적으로 수익이 보장되며, 사회적으로 수용할 수 있는 지속가능한 농업 육성이 중요한 과제로 부각되고 있다. 국내 농정 역시 이러한 변화에 대응하여 과거 경쟁력 강화에서 지속가능성 강화로 그 목표를 전환하였다. 이러한 지속가능한 농업으로의 전환은 친환경농자재에 대한 수요를 증가시킬 것으로 전망된다. 그러나 현재 친환경농자재 산업은 많은 현실적 문제점에 봉착해 있으며, 이는 친환경농자재 산업의 성장뿐만 아니라 지속가능한 농정 추진에 걸림돌로 작용하고 있다.

이에 본 연구는 지속가능한 농업에 대한 사회적 수요에 효과적으로 대응하기 위해 1) 친환경농자재의 생산, 유통 실태를 점검하고 2) 친환경농자재에 대한 인식, 이용 실태를 파악하여 3) 친환경농자재 산업의 특징과 문제점을 도출하고 4) 국내외 친환경농자재 산업과 관련 정책을 분석함으로써, 5) 국내 친환경농자재 관련 정책과제를 도출하고자 한다.

Background and Purpose ○ The world, including Korea, is shifting toward sustainable agriculture. Globally, the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the European Green Deal pay attention to reducing agricultural production’s negative impacts to improve the environment, guarantee economic returns, and nurture sustainable farming. To respond external changes, Korean government also converted its policy goals from improving competitiveness to enhancing sustainability. The trend toward sustainability is likely to increase the demand for eco-friendly agricultural materials. However, the eco-friendly agro-material sector face challenges, limiting the industry’s growth and sustainability policy execution.

○ This research aims to identify policy tasks related to eco-friendly agro-materials to respond to social demand for sustainable farming. For the purpose, we carried out the following: I) reviewing the production and distribution of eco-friendly agro-materials, II) understanding the public’s perception of eco-friendly materials, the state of their use, and impacts, III) finding the sector’s characteristics and problems, and IV) analyzing the industry at home and abroad and related policies.

Research Methodology ○ First of all, the research started with a literature review. To understand the scope, state, and external conditions of the eco-friendly agro-material industry, we analyzed literature, regulations, and the government policies concerning the definition, criteria, merits/ demerits, and corporate/ government measures related to eco-friendly agro-materials. Also, we carried out advisory meetings composed of policymakers, stakeholders, and experts, and target group interviews to understand the state of production, distribution, and usage, and related issues to improve.

○ Our surveys targeted production firms, farmers—eco-friendly and traditional—to ask overall questions on the industry. The questions were made based on the result of the advisory meeting and target group interviews mentioned above. We requested Korea Enterprise Data to survey production firms. To analyze the sector’s growth and decline, we carried out the metafrontier sales efficiency analysis using production firms’ financial data. Also, we inspected rice farmers’ use of byproduct fertilizers and their impact on rice production based on the agricultural production cost data.

○ Finally, we asked external experts to research overseas industrial trends and policies in major countries and international organizations.

(For more information, please refer to the report.)