Smart Orchard Demonstration with 4 Billion KRW Investment
Testing the Waters for Digital Transformation in Agriculture
Uiseong County is launching a large-scale pilot project that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics technologies into open-field apple cultivation. The strategy is to transform traditional fruit farming, which is facing limitations due to the climate crisis and an aging population, into a data-driven industry.
Uiseong County announced that it has been selected as the final recipient of the "Open-Field Smart Technology Convergence Demonstration Model Expansion" pilot project, organized by the Rural Development Administration. The county will invest a total of 4 billion KRW (approximately 3 million USD) over two years from 2026 to 2027 to accelerate the digital transformation of the apple industry.
This project focuses on establishing a smart agriculture model that is economically viable even in open-field cultivation environments. The county plans to create a 30-hectare smart orchard for apples and to gradually apply key open-field smart technologies that combine artificial intelligence, data, and robotics.
Specifically, the project will introduce: ▲ an early warning system for abnormal weather events to address climate anomalies, ▲ a smart irrigation system utilizing soil and crop growth data, ▲ an unmanned pest monitoring and control system, ▲ automated robots for weeding and transportation, and ▲ smart beekeeping facilities to improve pollination efficiency. These measures are designed to address the structural vulnerabilities of open-field apple cultivation, which is highly dependent on weather risks and labor, through technological solutions.
Through this demonstration, Uiseong County expects to reduce labor input by more than 30% by establishing automated operations and a precision cultivation system, while also minimizing production volatility caused by weather disasters.
In particular, the real-time data-based management system is expected to reduce quality variation and simultaneously enhance the marketability and competitiveness of Uiseong apples.
Kim Jusu, Governor of Uiseong County, stated, "Being selected for this project is a result of Uiseong County's ongoing efforts toward digital agricultural innovation," adding, "We aim to create a field-oriented smart agriculture model that farmers can truly experience, not just a showcase for technology, and to set a new standard for smart apple farming in Korea from Uiseong."
Open-field agriculture is considered the most challenging area for smart agriculture conversion. Uiseong County's project is seen as a significant turning point that could determine the potential for nationwide adoption, as it seeks to enhance the future competitiveness of major fruit-producing regions through technology, moving beyond facility-based smart farms.
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