The LINC 3.0 Project Group (Leaders in INdustry-university Cooperation 3.0), led by Professor Song Cheol-gyu, has made the world’s first low-carbon verified Hanwoo—released through the development of a bovine genomic analysis system—available to the general public.

The Project Group announced that it opened the first retail outlet in Jeongeup on the 1st, where consumers can purchase low-carbon verified Hanwoo produced through a program that tracks and verifies livestock carbon reduction. The initiative was carried out in collaboration with the Jeongeup Hanwoo Breeding Cooperative (Chairman Park Seung-sul), JBNU faculty startup Mellience (CEO Professor Lee Hak-gyo), and others.

The JBNU-produced low-carbon Hanwoo, developed with world-class technology, has entered the path toward full-scale industrialization through a collaboration with Jeongeup Hanwoo producers.

The opening ceremony was attended by Choi Jae-yong, Vice Mayor of Jeongeup City; Song Cheol-gyu, Director of the LINC 3.0 Project Group; Professor Lee Hak-gyo, who developed the technology; and representatives from the Jeongeup Livestock Microorganism Development Support Center, TNT Research Co., Ltd., Renew Energy Korea Co., Ltd., Manyu Bio Co., Ltd., Sun Bio, Seonhan Bio Co., Ltd., Woorim Bio Co., Ltd., Woojin B&G Co., Ltd., Gunsan Bio, BM Solution Co., Ltd., and various agrifood and livestock biotech companies. A plaque-unveiling ceremony was held, followed by research presentations and a panel discussion on achieving livestock carbon neutrality.

The low-carbon verified Hanwoo sold in Jeongeup was verified to have reduced the carbon footprint by more than 16.6 kg per 1 kg of beef compared with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) average. This is the first time the technology has been introduced and commercialized in the livestock sector worldwide.

Verification of the low-carbon Hanwoo is carried out through a system that strictly adheres to domestic standard specification management criteria. The system traces and analyzes data such as the genetic information and life history of cattle raised by producers in the Jeongeup area, and determines the extent of carbon reduction achieved.

JBNU researchers said that while the average carbon footprint for producing 1 kg of beef is 25.5 kg, the low-carbon verified Hanwoo was confirmed to reduce that footprint by approximately 8.9 kg. By selecting low-carbon Hanwoo cows based on genomic data and establishing a system to propagate them, it is expected that sustainable low-carbon Hanwoo production will be possible, significantly contributing to livestock carbon neutrality goals. JBNU has filed domestic and international patents for this low-carbon verification technology.

JBNU aims to reduce the annual livestock carbon footprint from cattle by approximately 600,000 tons within the next five years. Converted to the European average price for carbon emission credits, this amounts to about KRW 78 billion. The initiative is not limited to producing high-quality low-carbon beef; it is also seen as a proactive response to global trends such as carbon border taxes.

In 2017, domestic beef production totaled 239,000 tons, while 344,000 tons of beef were imported from seven countries. Based on distribution volumes, the average carbon footprint of domestic and imported beef was 13.9 and 17.9, respectively, with imported beef having a 29% higher carbon footprint. The total greenhouse gas emissions from domestic beef consumption, combining domestic and imported beef, amount to approximately 14 million tons. If imported beef were replaced by domestic beef, every 10% increase in self-sufficiency would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 345,000 tons. Consuming imported beef with a higher carbon footprint than domestic beef would ultimately increase global greenhouse gas emissions.

Given the current level of domestic beef’s carbon-neutral competitiveness and the potential to reduce carbon footprints through breeding low-carbon traits while maintaining appropriate herd sizes, it is expected that replacing imported beef could contribute to greenhouse gas reductions both in Korea and globally.

In particular, JBNU’s commercialization of a verification technology that measures the specific carbon reduction per individual is significant because it can serve as a foundation for advancing livestock carbon neutrality not only domestically but internationally.

At the panel discussion held after the opening ceremony, lead researcher Professor Heo Jae-young (Department of Animal Biotechnology) presented the research outcomes to date. Professor Heo said, "We have established a verification system for 70,000 Hanwoo and will expand it to a 100,000-head scale within the year to continue research aimed at creating an industrialization foundation."

Park Seung-sul, Chairman of the Hanwoo Breeding Cooperative, who participated as a panelist, said, "After decades in the livestock industry, this is the first time I have felt such a fundamental sense of crisis about livestock due to global warming. I hope the long-standing industry–university collaboration with JBNU to achieve livestock carbon neutrality will be further advanced to share a different livestock culture and establish a foundation for mutual growth."

Principal Investigator (PI) Professor Lee Hak-gyo said, "We must recognize that the climate crisis is not a distant issue but our immediate problem, and the damage to agriculture and livestock is expected to be severe. By linking our university’s accumulated research in agricultural and life sciences with livestock companies in the field through practical industry–university cooperation, we will spare no effort to achieve livestock carbon neutrality."