SPC to set up Korean wheat cultivation complex for breadmaking

The first cultivation complex of Korean wheat used for making bread will be set up in South Gyeongsang Province. SPC Group has signed an agreement for creating a wheat cultivation complex with the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ministry, the Uiryeong County, the National Institute of Crop Science of Rural Development Administration and Korean Wheat Production Committee of Uiryeong County. It will be a 363-acre wheat cultivation complex, joined by some 100 farm households.

Wheat is a grain that is consumed the second most after rice in Korea. Its consumption reached 2.01 million tons last year, but domestic production was only 30,000 tons (self-sufficient rate at 1.5 percent).

The Rural Development Administration had developed and distributed a modernized "jogyeong" wheat for baking aiming to replace existing Korean wheat, which is not suitable for baking due to low protein content. However, cultivation and harvest were not systemically promoted.

SPC Group will buy 4,000 tons of Korean wheat this year including 250 tons of jogyeong wheat. The company will purchase jogyeong wheat and Korean wheat as much as 530 tons and 5,000 tons, respectively, by 2018. The kind of bread made with Korean wheat, which are available at bakeries such as Paris Baguette, Paris Croissant and Dunkin Donuts, will also be increased to 55 from 45.

kyu@donga.com