November 19, 2013

Mutation breeding is the process of exposing seeds to radiation to create mutants with desirable traits, and is therefore fundamentally different from breeding genetically-modified organisms (GMOs).

The technology is also considered much safer than GMOs, as it leaves no trace of radiation, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

South Korea is currently ranked 25th in the world in terms of the number of mutagenic plants it has developed, the ministry said in a press release. Mutagenic plants refer to plants created by radiation-induced mutation.

However, the area used for the cultivation of mutagenic plants currently accounts for only 0.5% of the country's total arable land, compared with China's 20% and Japan's 10%.

With the construction of the mutation research centre, the country seeks to increase the number of its own mutagenic plants in order to become the world's fifth largest developer by 2020. The move is expected to help boost the country's shipments of seeds to US$200 million, the ministry said.