Haniol' and 'Hero' optimized for combine harvesting, producing 158kg per 10a; interest in 'Seulgi', high lignan content Increased yield compared to existing varieties and improved cultivation stability enable large-scale operation; however, challenges remain, such as the development of aerial pest control agents. New sesame varieties have the advantage of superior yield compared to existing varieties and strong resistance to pests and diseases. This naturally increases cultivation stability and enables large-scale operations. The problem is that inadequate regulations regarding sesame cultivation must be improved quickly to help raise the self-sufficiency rate. Four sesame farmers and Kim Seong-eop, a researcher at the Field Crop Development Division of the National Institute of Food Science and Technology, gathered at a church meeting hall in Namseon-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. At the gathering, the farmers explained the strengths and weaknesses of the new sesame varieties developed by the institute during cultivation and made suggestions regarding future variety development. Researcher Kim listened to their feedback and explained the direction of new variety development. The domestic self-sufficiency rate for sesame is merely 10%. According to the National Data Crop Production Survey, domestic sesame production is projected to reach 10,835 tons by 2025. In contrast, sesame imports (according to Customs statistics) amount to 95,167 tons. The low self-sufficiency rate is primarily due to its susceptibility to pests and diseases, coupled with a labor shortage resulting from the accelerating aging of the farming population while the pace of sesame mechanization remains slow. This implies that sesame is one of the most difficult crops to cultivate. However, winds of change are recently blowing through sesame cultivation. This is due to the development of new varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases, offer high yields to enhance cultivation stability, and enable mechanical harvesting with combines. This is precisely what farmers in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, have focused on. Representative varieties include 'Haniol' and 'Youngwoong,' developed by the National Institute of Food Science and Technology. 'Haniol,' bred in 2021, is a variety optimized for combine harvesting. It also boasts improved disease resistance and yield compared to existing varieties. 'Youngwoong' offers excellent yields with a production of 158 kg per 10a and is resistant to late blight, wilt, and powdery mildew. Through the Sesame New Technology Pilot Project, high-quality cultivation complexes for these two varieties are being established in 11 locations this year, including Jinju and Cheongyang, following six regions including Changwon and Andong last year. In addition, interest in the 'Seulgi' variety, which has a high lignan content, has also been rising recently. It is reported that interest in the 'Seulgi' variety has come not only from growers but also from sesame oil producers, and that product commercialization is expected within the year through contract farming with farms in the Andong region. Kim Jong-gil, CEO of the agricultural corporation Yeogi, stated, “We were cultivating soybeans, but climate change caused poor yields and crop performance. To diversify our crops, we began growing sesame, and now that a variety suitable for mechanized harvesting has been developed, we are expanding our sesame cultivation area.” Kim Jae-han, who cultivates the new variety 'Youngwoong,' said, “I am focusing on cultivating new varieties because they have advantages such as resistance to lodging and pests,” adding, “This has also allowed us to reduce labor during the sesame harvesting process.” How does the mechanized harvesting of sesame benefit farmers? According to CEO Kim Jong-gil, transporting sesame to greenhouses for harvesting and drying over an area of 3,960 square meters (1,200 pyeong) typically requires 14 people per day. In contrast, using a combine harvester allows the same area to be completed, including threshing, in just 40 to 50 minutes. However, CEO Kim explains that while combine harvesting results in a shattering rate of about 10%, this represents a much smaller loss compared to labor costs. With farmers' interest in new sesame varieties rising, there are calls for institutional improvements to follow suit. It is argued that, in order to achieve large-scale sesame cultivation, pesticides required for aerial spraying must be registered immediately. Furthermore, given that plastic mulching is essential for sesame farming and collecting the film requires significant labor and costs, there is a demand to expand subsidies for biodegradable films. CEO Kim Jong-gil stated, “Andong City promised to subsidize the cost of aerial pest control agents, but we are unable to receive the subsidy because there are no suitable agents for sesame,” and urged research institutions or companies to “make efforts to develop agents.” Son In-seok said, “Biodegradable film is about four times more expensive than regular mulching plastic. I hope there will be support for this so that farmers can reduce operating costs and farm more easily.” In response to these demands from the field, Kim Seong-eop, a researcher at the Field Crop Development Division of the National Institute of Food Science and Technology, stated, “The goal of sesame breeding is to develop varieties that excel in adaptability to mechanical harvesting while possessing enhanced disease resistance, functionality, and tolerance to moisture.” He added, “We will also strengthen promotion of superior varieties so that consumers prefer new sesame varieties. Please trust the variety developers at the research institute and focus on cultivation.” He further urged farmers to join forces to improve and resolve any shortcomings in the system alongside variety development.