Jeonbuk Province Selects Four Smart Agricultural Product Processing Centers

Full-Scale Digital Transformation of the Agricultural Product Distribution System

Jeonbuk Province announced on October 11 that a total of four sites have been finally selected for the 2026 Smart Agricultural Product Processing Center (APC) project, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Jeonbuk Provincial Government Office view. Provided by Jeonbuk Province

As a result of this achievement, a project worth a total of 18 billion won will be implemented, with up to 5.8 billion won in national funding secured. With this selection, Jeonbuk Province will significantly expand its advanced distribution hubs linked to regionally specialized crops, laying the foundation to accelerate the digital transformation of the agricultural product distribution system.

The selected project sites are: two in Muju (2.9 billion won in national funding), one in Gochang (500 million won in national funding), and one in Buan (2.4 billion won in national funding). In particular, Muju County plans to further establish a smart APC dedicated to apples, aiming to increase its sorting capacity from the current 32% to 60%.

This is expected to resolve the issue of apples being shipped unsorted due to lack of facilities and then sold as apples from other regions, thereby strengthening the brand competitiveness of Muju apples.

Buan County will promote the project by converting non-standard agricultural products into processed goods. Watermelons will be marketed as cut fruit, and onions will be processed into value-added onion products, thereby increasing the added value of agricultural products that were previously discarded or sold at low prices and contributing to the stabilization of farmers' incomes.

The smart APC is an advanced distribution facility that goes beyond traditional sorting, storage, and packaging functions by incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and big data. Through its precision sorting system, automated control management system, and predictive shipment management functions, it enables standardized mass shipments of agricultural products, while simultaneously reducing logistics costs and enhancing product reliability.

Additionally, local agricultural distribution organizations will be able to secure stable sales channels through the smart APC, and address structural challenges in rural areas such as aging populations and labor shortages. By reducing labor requirements, the stability of farm management will be improved, while consumers will benefit from a virtuous cycle that ensures a stable supply of high-quality agricultural products.

Based on the secured national funding, the province plans to introduce modernized smart sorting lines and automated logistics systems, and gradually implement customized operations tailored to each crop. Jeonbuk Province aims to foster the smart APC as a 'digital distribution hub for agricultural products' that connects production, shipment, and consumption, thereby enhancing the overall competitiveness of agriculture.

Min Sunshik, Director of the Agricultural Life and Livestock Industry Bureau of Jeonbuk Province, stated, "This selection is not just about expanding facilities, but represents a pivotal turning point that will drive innovation throughout agricultural distribution. We will do our utmost to ensure that the smart APC contributes to the real income stability of farmers and serves as a catalyst for a new leap forward in agricultural product distribution."