Fire blight is a bacterial disease that causes the flowers and leaves of apple and pear trees to turn black, ultimately leading to the death of the entire tree. Since its first occurrence in South Korea in 2015, it has spread nationwide, causing significant damage to farmers. In the past six years, compensation payments for losses have totaled approximately 180 billion won (about $135 million).
Until now, the key ingredient for fire blight pesticides, bacteriophage, has been entirely reliant on imports due to difficulties in domestic production.
In December 2024, the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences successfully developed a domestic pesticide that selectively eliminates the fire blight bacteria.
Currently, to enable the mass cultivation of bacteriophage, which is essential for the practical use of the pesticide, the pesticide manufacturing companies involved in the joint research need to be provided with the fire blight bacteria. However, under the Plant Protection Act, fire blight bacteria are designated as quarantine (prohibited) targets, and measures such as disposal and elimination are mandated, complicating the commercialization process.
In response, the Audit Agency suggested that the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences could provide fire blight bacteria to the pesticide manufacturing companies involved in the joint research, provided that they establish procedures and control measures to prevent leakage.
The Audit Agency determined that the development and distribution of fire blight pesticides fall under the government's fundamental responsibility to reduce damage to farmers.
It also considered that a legal amendment is underway to allow the use of plant pests for testing and research purposes.
Additionally, the Plant Protection Act includes provisions that permit the import of pests for testing and research purposes if the necessary expertise and facilities are in place.
The Audit Agency noted that there have been instances where pathogens, such as those causing COVID-19, were provided to private companies for vaccine and treatment development under the Infectious Disease Control Act.
The Audit Agency stated, "This is expected to result in an annual import substitution effect of about 5 billion won ($4.5 million) for the core pesticide ingredients, significantly enhancing the competitiveness of the domestic fruit industry through the expansion of eco-friendly fruit production and improved productivity."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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