September 25-28 at aT Center
"Potato" Selected as Agricultural Product of the Year
Hands-on Activities Include Potato Harvesting with RC Cars
NEW AG WAVE Conference to Explore the Future Direction of Agriculture
The nation's leading "Comprehensive Agricultural and Rural Expo" will be held for four days from September 25 to 28. At this year's expo, the K-Food Pavilion will introduce K-Food export companies and discover promising businesses. Korean liquor sommeliers will personally present traditional alcoholic beverages, while tasting and pairing programs with experts, as well as exhibitions of export items, will be operated simultaneously. In addition, the "NEW AG WAVE" conference, a signature program of the Agricultural Expo, will bring together experts and leading companies in the fields of open-field farming, horticulture, and livestock to explore the future direction of agriculture and exchange ideas.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on September 24 that the 2025 Korea Agricultural Expo will be held at the aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, from the 25th to the 28th.
Panorama of the 2024 Korea Agricultural Expo. (Photo by Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)
The Agricultural Expo, first held in 2019, marks its seventh edition this year as Korea's representative comprehensive agricultural and rural expo. Hosted annually by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the expo aims to "spread the value and importance of agriculture and rural communities" and "build networks among stakeholders in the agricultural sector." This year's Korea Agricultural Expo will operate exhibition and experience halls under the theme "Growth and Happiness Created by Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Communities." In addition, the NEW AG WAVE conference and outdoor Chuseok agricultural and livestock product sales events will be held as related programs.
A ministry official explained, "The theme of this year's expo signifies that agriculture and rural communities go beyond simply producing food; through advanced technology and innovation, they create new growth engines and happiness that all citizens can enjoy. Through innovative changes such as digital transformation in agriculture, smart farming, eco-friendly technology, and youth entrepreneurship, we aim to lead the sustainable development of agriculture. Furthermore, the innovation of agriculture and rural communities provides safe food and a pleasant living environment for the public, serving as the foundation for growth and happiness for all. This is the core message of this year's expo."
The exhibition halls will consist of four themed pavilions: ▲Agriculture and Life, ▲Innovation in Agriculture, ▲Vibrant Rural Communities, and ▲Distinctive Agriculture. Notably, this year's Agricultural Products Pavilion will feature "potatoes" as the agricultural product of 2025, following "soybeans" last year, and will host the "K-Potato Festa," offering a wealth of experiences and information. Visitors will be able to enjoy a variety of potato varieties, as well as hands-on activities such as potato harvesting using RC cars and a potato stacking challenge.
The "Popular Content Awards," now in its second year, aims to enhance the promotional impact of participating companies' content through the expo while offering visitors more diverse exhibition and experience opportunities. Last year, the awards were determined 100% by visitor votes, but this year, expert evaluations and on-site verification have been added to further ensure fairness.
The NEW AG WAVE conference will explore the future direction of agriculture. In the first session, Lee Inbok, professor at Seoul National University's Department of Landscape and Regional System Engineering, will deliver a keynote presentation titled "The Future of Digital Agriculture: Staying True to the Basics." Kim Kyun-jang, head of the Korea Institute of Future Agriculture, will discuss "The Ideal and Reality of Open-Field Smart Farming." Lee Wooram, CEO of Croft, will present on "The Present and Future of AI for Smart Agricultural Innovation." Shin Minyong, CEO of Badit, will speak on "Sustainable Livestock in the Age of AI: From Precision Farming through Behavioral Analysis." In the second session, under the theme of "K-Food Plus(+) and Agriculture," the conference will discuss roadmaps for expanding agriculture's scope, focusing on adding high value to raw agricultural products and building global value chains.
In anticipation of the Chuseok holiday, a marketplace will be set up where visitors can purchase K-Agricultural products at discounted prices. In the plaza in front of the exhibition hall, young farmers and certified rural convergence industry (sixth industry) companies will offer a variety of agricultural products at discounts of up to 30%. Additionally, until September 28, online promotional sales events in collaboration with the Korea Agricultural Expo will be held on Nonghyup Mall and Handon Mall.
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Miryeong stated, "The 2025 Korea Agricultural Expo will consist of pavilions that showcase the new government's agricultural policy vision, including agriculture as a national strategic industry leading innovation and rural communities driving balanced growth. We expect that the active interest and participation of the public will be a great force in creating happy agriculture and rural communities."
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