Sold out 800kg immediately after production... Department stores and online malls to launch in October
‘AI Mushroom Scholarship’ secures 100 million won, Smart Farm Technology Institute emerging as a hotspot for ‘AI Convergence’ exploration
From the opening ceremony of Dongmyeong University Smart Farm to various aspects of cultivation and harvesting.
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Dongmyung University in Busan (President Jeong Hong-seop) has sold out the first harvest of ‘AI Mushrooms’ cultivated with AI convergence technology in its on-campus ‘Smart Farm’.
A total of 300kg was sold, and sales are progressing smoothly to the point that supply is insufficient to meet demand. Partner companies involved in production are also excited and generously donated 100 million KRW in scholarships to the university.
Dongmyung University was the only institution in the Busan area selected for the nationwide science culture activity support project by the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity, and will conduct the ‘AI Convergence Innovation Living Field Invitation Tour’ until the end of this year. The mushroom cultivation site in the container-built smart farm is also considered a popular tour destination.
The mushroom called ‘Dongmyung Amigo,’ which combines the advantages of low-temperature shiitake mushrooms and matsutake mushrooms, is the fruit of ‘AI convergence innovation’ achieved by the meeting of ‘agriculture’ and ‘AI.’
Encouraged by the success of Dongmyung Amigo, Dongmyung University recently received a scholarship donation of 100 million KRW from the Dongmyung Amigo Cooperative and KCTS Co., Ltd. This means a solid sponsor has been secured to provide full scholarships to two students each semester for the next five years.
Dongmyung University Smart Farm mushroom cultivation partner companies donated 100 million KRW in scholarships to the university.
President Jeong Hong-seop proudly stated, “In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution where various boundaries are breaking down, Dongmyung Amigo, the fruit of creative convergence, symbolizes AI innovation. Along with the ‘Living Lab’ where students solve social problems beyond the campus, it will also contribute to job creation and more.”
On August 14, Dongmyung University held an opening ceremony for the AI Convergence Smart Farm Technology Research Institute on campus, attended by National Assembly member Park Soo-young and Nam-gu District Mayor Park Jae-beom, and has been marketing mushrooms grown there since then.
The smart farm remotely controls the growth environment via smartphones, including temperature and humidity, light intensity, carbon dioxide emission and fresh air intake, as well as humidification and dehumidification.
Since the opening of the research institute, it has achieved sales of 800 boxes of 1kg Dongmyung Amigo finished products.
Dongmyung University, which has set its specialization direction as an ‘AI-strong university,’ was the first university in the Busan area to establish an AI bachelor’s program, the ‘AI Convergence College,’ starting in the 2021 academic year, and plans to expand AI convergence majors to all colleges from the 2022 academic year.
The smart farm that gave birth to the ‘AI Mushroom’ is one of several challenges.
In May, it was the only private university in Busan selected for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Innovation Leading University Project and is carrying out the project with a total support of 2 billion KRW from the Ministry of Education until 2021.
The College of Engineering’s Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Department of Automotive Engineering, and Department of Mechanical Engineering have also launched a talent development project for ‘Digital Twin Technology for Autonomous Driving V2V (Vehicle to Vessel).’
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
