Assessing on-site needs, including the Agriculture X Demonstration Center, training for specialized personnel, and open-field experience sites
Smart agriculture companies leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and data technology gathered with the government to discuss ways to revitalize the industry ecosystem. The government plans to strengthen support by expanding demonstration bases, training specialized personnel, and broadening inter-company cooperation networks to ensure that smart agriculture technologies are successfully implemented in actual agricultural settings.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs held the “1st Roundtable Meeting with Leading Smart Agriculture Companies” on the 29th at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, presided over by Vice Minister Kim Jong-gu.
This roundtable was organized following the announcement of the selection of outstanding smart agriculture companies on the 10th. During the event, Vice Minister Kim listened to the innovation achievements and future business plans of 15 outstanding smart agriculture companies in the crop and livestock sectors, and reviewed on-site challenges and policy needs.
In the crop cultivation sector, companies were selected for their smart farm nutrient solution dispensers, integrated environmental control systems, tractor-mounted autonomous driving kits, AI-powered automated robots for strawberry pollination and harvesting, satellite imagery-based growth monitoring, autonomous mobile robots for crop and pest monitoring, and AI-based smart farm integrated management platforms.
In the livestock sector, the list included smart barn automatic feeders, individual automatic feeders, a vision AI-based Hanwoo cattle management platform, AI-based digital precision livestock solutions, and IoT (Internet of Things) and GIS (Geographic Information System)-based smart beekeeping systems.
Participating companies proposed measures needed in the field, such as the establishment of demonstration greenhouses and the strengthening of educational infrastructure. In response, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs explained that it would share policies currently being implemented—such as the construction of an Agriculture x (AX) Demonstration Center, the designation of educational institutions for smart agriculture professionals, and the creation of open-field smart agriculture training and experience centers—and would continue to refine them to meet on-site demands.
The need for inter-company cooperation was also discussed. MAFRA plans to support the establishment of a private-sector-led smart agriculture ecosystem by regularizing events such as results-sharing sessions to facilitate exchange and collaboration among leading companies.
Vice Minister Kim stated, “Leading smart agriculture companies are the key players in bringing technological innovation to the field,” adding, “I hope they will lead the market based on their respective strengths and drive the expansion of smart agriculture so that more farmers can experience its benefits.”