National Assembly Holds Expert Roundtable
"Need for Data Sovereignty Guarantees and Effective Digital Agriculture Strategies"
In line with the rapid progress of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, agriculture is accelerating its digital transformation. However, there is a growing sentiment on the ground that tangible changes are lacking.
Im Miae (center) is discussing the need to assess the current status of domestic smart agriculture policies and to redefine their direction together with field experts in the agricultural sector. Office of Im Miae
On July 16, Democratic Party lawmaker Im Miae held a policy roundtable titled "Smart Agriculture: How Far Have We Come and What Are the Issues?" in Meeting Room 10 of the National Assembly Members' Office Building. During the event, she emphasized the need to assess the current status of domestic smart agriculture policies and to redefine their direction together with field experts in the agricultural sector.
Field experts active in the livestock, horticulture, and agricultural technology research sectors attended the roundtable, sharing vivid accounts of the current state of technology adoption, the effectiveness of policies, and the voices from the field.
The participants pointed out, "Current smart agriculture policies are disconnected from field demand and are instead focused on supply and technology. In reality, the outcomes that genuinely contribute to improving farm productivity or increasing income are extremely limited."
In particular, the lack of guaranteed rights and clear standards for the use of various agricultural data produced by farmers emerged as a serious issue. The experts stressed, "Data is an asset for 21st-century agriculture, and clear rights must be guaranteed to the farmers who collect it." They also called on the government to swiftly establish legal and institutional frameworks to ensure fairness and transparency in data usage.
Im Miae stated, "Smart agriculture must be an innovation that brings real changes to the lives of farmers, going beyond the mere introduction of technology. Policies should shift from being technology-centered to being people-centered, and the government must reset its direction and philosophy."
She also remarked, "No effective change can occur if politics and administration are separated from the realities on the ground. I will ensure that this roundtable does not end as a one-off event, but will continue to reflect the voices from the agricultural sector in policy through regular discussions and legislative debates."
Im Miae plans to institutionalize regular roundtables for improving smart agriculture policies and to actively work on establishing a legal framework so that the digital transformation of agriculture becomes an 'innovation for farmers,' not just 'technology for technology's sake.'
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