Responding to Aging and Climate Crisis with 'Smart Agriculture'... Government to Establish Comprehensive Support System

Smart Agriculture Act to Take Effect on the 26th

The government will establish a comprehensive support promotion system through the preparation of a basic plan for smart agriculture development every five years. The purpose is to respond to climate change and the aging agricultural population by spreading smart agriculture.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 25th that the "Act on the Promotion and Support of Smart Agriculture (Smart Agriculture Act)" will be enforced from the 26th.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs explained, "With the enforcement of the Smart Agriculture Act, we have established a legal basis for supporting the development of smart agriculture and related industries. To achieve the goal of converting 30% of agricultural production to smart agriculture by 2027, we plan to focus on key tasks with high public policy awareness first."

First, the "1st Basic Plan for Smart Agriculture Development (2025?2029)" will be prepared to build a comprehensive support promotion system that allows farmers and companies to lead the agricultural innovation ecosystem. Accordingly, the designation of "Smart Agriculture Development Zones," which concentrate smart agricultural production and related industries of regionally specialized agricultural products, will be promoted, along with expanded investment in smart agriculture technology development to maximize economic feasibility, and the field expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and data solutions for climate-responsive pest control and water management.

Efforts will also be made to enhance the technological utilization capabilities and international competitiveness of farmers, companies, and experts leading the spread of smart agriculture. To assist farms struggling due to a lack of knowledge and skills regarding new technologies, the government will operate specialized smart agriculture education institutions and implement a "Smart Agriculture Manager" certification system from next year for those with IT knowledge and cultivation skills. Additionally, support for smart farm companies will be strengthened in business commercialization, investment attraction, and marketing at each growth stage from startup to export.

Based on the demands of the smart agricultural industry field, outdated regulations and systems will also be improved. To allow new forms of agriculture such as vertical farms to grow, location regulations on farmland and industrial complexes will be rationally improved (within this year), and agricultural corporations managing high-performing smart farms will be selected to expand the scope of business to include equipment and service sectors (within this year).

Lee Sang-man, Director of Agricultural Innovation Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Smart agriculture will play a key role in leading the generational and digital transformation of future agriculture. In line with the purpose of enacting the Smart Agriculture Act, we will support our smart farm industry to secure competitiveness and grow into a new export industry."