Experts from 14 nations gather in Ansan to tackle food security amid climate crisis

As climate change makes the stable management of agricultural water increasingly critical, experts from around the world are gathering in South Korea to discuss water management strategies for food security — sharing policy and technology while exploring ways to deepen international cooperation.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced Tuesday it will host the 21st Steering Committee and Symposium of the International Network for Water and Ecosystem in Paddy Fields (INWEPF) in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, from Wednesday through Friday. About 100 domestic and international experts from 14 countries and international organizations are expected to attend.

INWEPF is an intergovernmental consultative body established in 2004 to discuss agricultural water management and ecosystem conservation with a focus on paddy farming. It currently counts 19 countries and three international organizations as members, and each year a rotating member country hosts the steering committee and expert symposium.

This year's conference theme is "Water Security for Food Security." On the opening day Wednesday, keynote addresses will be delivered by Lee Jun-won, president of the Korea Association for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and Watanabe, chair of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID). Country experts will then present their policies and technologies related to agricultural water management.

On Thursday, a steering committee session will bring together government representatives from member countries to review INWEPF's strategic activities and past achievements and discuss plans going forward.

On the final day Friday, participants will visit the International Convergence Hydraulic Testing Center at the Korea Rural Community Corporation's Rural Research Institute and the National Agricultural Museum to tour domestic agricultural facilities.

INWEPF shares the work of its member countries and subcommittees through major international forums such as the World Water Forum and ICID, steadily expanding its cooperative network in agricultural water management.

"Securing water security for food security is an extremely important challenge in the era of climate crisis," said Jeong Hye-ryeon, director general for food policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "This event will be a meaningful occasion to share experiences and knowledge on agricultural water policies and technologies from diverse countries and to explore solutions together."