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Busan Agricultural Technology Center Wins Grand Prize for Innovation in Agricultural Technology Dissemination with the Domestic Chrysanthemum “Baekgang” Model

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Busan Metropolitan City’s Agricultural Technology Center (hereinafter, the Center) announced that it won the Grand Prize at the awards ceremony of the 2025 Agricultural Technology Dissemination Innovation Best Practices Competition, hosted by the Rural Development Administration, held yesterday afternoon (December 16), in recognition of its achievements in establishing a technology dissemination model for the domestic chrysanthemum variety “Baekgang.”

“Baekgang” is a domestically bred chrysanthemum variety and the first large white chrysanthemum in Korea to possess resistance to white rust disease. It can reduce the use of pesticides for white rust control by 30 percent (%), and its flower longevity is approximately twice as long as that of conventional cut chrysanthemums—lasting about three to four weeks. In addition, as it can be cultivated at lower temperatures, it helps reduce winter heating costs by 20 percent (%). The variety was disseminated on an expanded scale through the 2024–2025 “Technology Dissemination Blending* Cooperative Model Project.”

• ●Blending: the act of mixing various elements together into one.

The Center was highly evaluated as an exemplary case of a field-oriented dissemination model linked with smart agriculture. Through the establishment of an organic cooperation system among research, extension services, and the private sector, it successfully achieved both field-centered technology dissemination and increased farm income.

In a cut-flower chrysanthemum market that had been highly dependent on imported varieties, the Center laid the foundation for self-reliance of domestic cultivars. It also achieved tangible outcomes by developing and demonstrating ICT-based automated irrigation and fertigation systems as part of academic research projects, resulting in the submission of two research papers and one patent application.

Furthermore, by applying dyeing techniques to white chrysanthemums—previously used mainly for funerals and ceremonial altars—and transforming them into lifestyle-oriented colored “Baekgang” products, the Center opened new consumer markets. Since 2024, more than 300,000 stems have been exported to Japan.

In addition, through the Domestic Chrysanthemum Breeding Academy (K-Chrysanthemum: Cultivating the Future Together Education Program), the Center conducted customized programs for approximately 1,200 participants, including florists, altar decorators, universities, students, foreign residents, and homemakers. Survey results showed a 93.8 percent (%) favorability rating for first impressions of colored “Baekgang” and an 87.7 percent (%) purchase intention rate.

Yu Mi-bok, Director of the Busan Agricultural Technology Center, stated, “This award is not solely an achievement of the domestic chrysanthemum variety ‘Baekgang,’ but a joint accomplishment made possible by the public–private consultative body and flower growers who took on the challenge together in the field.” She added, “Going forward, we will continue to develop Busan-style dissemination models that integrate field demonstration, technology dissemination, and market linkage, so that crops once dependent on imported varieties can be gradually transitioned to domestic cultivars.”