Korea's Staple Side Dish "Gim"... Now Produced on Land with AI

Daesang Chosen as Lead Institution for Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' "Land-Based Gim Aquaculture" Project
KRW 35 Billion Investment in R&D, Commercialization Targeted for 2029

Daesang announced on the 23rd that it has been selected as the lead research and development institution for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' project, "Development of Sustainable High-Quality Gim Seed Production and Land-Based Aquaculture Technology." This project was launched to establish a land-based Gim aquaculture system that enables year-round production, with the aim of ensuring both food safety and supply stability.

A total of 35 billion KRW in research and development funding will be invested in the project. The goal is to commercialize mass Gim seed cultivation technology and a land-based aquaculture system over the next five years, by 2029. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries selected Daesang's research team as the final lead institution from among several consortia composed of food companies, local governments, universities, and private enterprises, including Daesang, through a public call for proposals in January.

For the project, Daesang has partnered with three metropolitan governments?Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, and Chungnam?as well as 12 universities and research institutes, including Kongju National University and POSTECH, and 11 private companies such as Hana SuSan. These organizations plan to divide their efforts between two initiatives: "Development of Year-Round Supply and Mass Cultivation Technology for Land-Based Gim Seeds" and "Development of a Land-Based Year-Round Gim Production System and Quality Management Technology."

The research team led by Kongju National University and POSTECH will be responsible for advancing the year-round supply system for Gim seeds and developing a standard manual to increase productivity per unit area. In addition, a research team including Jeonnam Marine and Fisheries Science Institute, Goheung County, and Hana SuSan will focus on the demonstration of the AI-based smart aquaculture facility, "AI-Aquafarm," and the development of a quality management system.

Daesang has been planning its land-based Gim aquaculture business since 2016. Last year, it established a pilot farm in Goheung County, Jeonnam?a major Gim production area?together with Hana SuSan, successfully growing raw Gim to a length of 40 to 50 centimeters. Currently, facilities for a second pilot aquaculture are being established, and the company plans to launch commercial Gim products in earnest starting in 2030.

Kim Jungyu, head of Daesang Seaweed CIC, stated, "Gim is gaining attention worldwide as a 'healthy snack and nutritious ingredient,' and demand is increasing." He added, "Through land-based aquaculture, we expect to secure a stable supply chain for raw materials and produce high value-added products, enabling the Gim industry to become a sustainable growth industry." He continued, "By introducing a year-round production system and building a cooperative framework with local fisheries, we anticipate not only revitalizing local economies but also achieving shared growth through technical exchanges with existing producers."

Currently, Daesang produces Gim both domestically and locally in Vietnam and Indonesia, exporting to over 40 countries worldwide. Its annual Gim sales amount to approximately 150 billion KRW.