Dongmyung University Cultivates and Harvests Mushrooms Using Smart Farming Methods on Campus
Five Advanced Containers with Temperature and Humidity Control in Operation
‘AI Convergence Smart Farm Technology Research Center’ Opens at 4 PM on the 14th
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Mushrooms cultivated using AI technology are experiencing a 'bumper harvest.' The farm is a university campus, and the farmers are students. Instead of discarding the crops after experimental research, the farmers deliver the 'fruits of their labor' to the market.
Dongmyung University, known as a 'university strong in AI,' is undergoing innovation by converting most of its departments into AI convergence majors.
The university decided to create a smart farm on campus using AI and to bring the mushrooms cultivated there to market.
Remote automatic control urban farming techniques such as temperature and humidity regulation have been installed in the campus smart farm. This marks the birth of a new concept mushroom through the 'fusion of agriculture, IT, and AI.'
It is not only efficient in crop production but also creates urban agriculture jobs. This is a perfect item for the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Dongmyung University is eagerly awaiting the 14th. At 4 p.m., the AI Convergence Smart Farm Technology Research Institute will hold an opening ceremony at the site of the 4th parking lot next to the Gaonnuri Grand Stadium.
About 150 people will attend, including Park Soo-young, a member of the National Assembly representing the local district; Park Jae-beom, Mayor of Nam-gu; Kim Moon-hwan, Director of the Busan Regional Small and Medium Venture Business Administration; and Choi Jong-yeol, Director of Busan Technopark. The Smart Farm Research Institute was established with support from the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea, and Dongmyung University's Community Collaboration Center operates the institute to spark innovation in urban agriculture.
Park Soo-young, head of Dongmyung University's Community Collaboration Center, said, "We succeeded in cultivating and harvesting mushrooms within 3 to 4 weeks by automatically controlling temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide emissions, fresh air inflow, humidification/dehumidification, and illumination, and remotely adjusting the growth environment via smartphones."
The smart farm consists of five 40-foot containers. One container serves as a mushroom storage warehouse. Altogether, the urban farm covers an area of 320㎡ (97 pyeong). The first harvest of the mushrooms named 'Dongmyung Amigo,' cultivated here for about a month, is about to be released.
Dongmyung Amigo is a type of low-temperature shiitake mushroom. It combines the advantages of shiitake and pine mushrooms, characterized by a subtle aroma and chewy texture. The name Amigo carries meanings such as 'mother's mushroom,' '雅味?' (meaning exquisite taste), 'the best-tasting mushroom,' and 'AMIGO' as a friend for returning to farming.
Dongmyung University plans to add 3 to 5 more containers above the cultivation building by October to establish research and development offices and an education experience center.
To build the smart farm mushroom cultivation technology (NEX Farm V1), the university collaborated for about 1 year and 4 months with KCTS Co., Ltd. (CEO Cha Ji-wook) through corporate R&D technology commercialization and business support. This research institute was established as a socially sustainable economic model.
The university expects that the institute will contribute to building a social economy business model and advancing the Urban K-farm by conducting joint research and education to foster the 6th industry related to agriculture, promoting economic independence of cooperatives through high value-added product production, and creating jobs for local youth and middle-aged workers.
The Dongmyung University LINC+ Project Group (Director Shin Dong-seok) stated, "In connection with KCTS Co., Ltd., Dongmyung Amigo Cooperative, and Chungbuk Anter Village Enterprise, we are planning to launch sales through NS Home Shopping and Shinsegae Department Store starting this September."
To pioneer sales channels, since June, they have been operating a regional smart farm-linked social economy RCC distribution support group together with Busan Technopark, Ulsan Technopark, and officials from Busan Gyeongsang National University.
Jung Hong-seop, President of Dongmyung University, said, "In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where various boundaries are breaking down, the creative fusion of agriculture and IT·AI has given birth to 'Dongmyung Amigo.' We will create jobs together with the 'Living Lab,' which goes beyond the campus to solve social problems."
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