Welcome back to Asia in Science, a blog that was long due. So far, we’ve mainly talked about physics, today however we will be exploring another crucial discipline of science, agriculture.
Agriculture Amidst Urbanization: South Korea’s Smart Farms
With only about 22% of its predominantly mountainous land being suitable for farming, coupled with a growing urban population and decreasing rural workforce, South Korea’s agricultural economy was at a standstill. The looming catastrophe of food insecurity had haunted the Korean terrain for a protracted period.
This was until 2014, when South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) launched a groundbreaking national initiative to champion smart farming. In the face of adversity, South Korea transformed traditional farming into a high-tech industry, a catalyst for innovation.
From 1960 to 2022 the population of South Korea increased from 25.01 million to 51.63 million people. This is a growth of 106.4 per cent in 62 years. A population that would perhaps have remained unfed without agricultural engineering experts like Dr. Jeong Hyeon-Su and Dr. Kim Jae-Sung. Their pioneering research was instrumental in developing IoT applications for smart farms, that monitor real-time conditions such as temperature, humidity, soil moisture, and nutrient levels.
In 2018, the Smart Farm Innovation Valley in Gimje, Jeollabuk-do Province was succeeded by Miryang Smart Farm Innovation Valley, equipped with state-of-the-art greenhouses and vertical farming systems as a hub for research, development, and training in technologically advanced agricultural practices.
The area of smart farms in South Korea increased from 1,500 hectares in 2016 to 4,000 hectares in 2020. The advantages of this crucial growth were boundless. Smart farming is at the forefront of sustainability, using up to 40% less water and 30% less fertilizer than conventional farms. Across every aspect of crop production, smart farms facilitate precise irrigation, customised nutrient management and automated climate control. Through meticulous control and optimization, Smart farming today is 30% more productive, relative to its traditional counterparts.
South Korea’s success is deep-rooted in its drive to overcome challenges that dared to obstruct the country’s growth. Today, the Food market in South Korea is projected to grow by 5.10% (2024-2028) resulting in a market volume of US$163.50bn in 2028. Their initiative is gaining international recognition as a model for integrating technology to tackle critical global challenges.
Thank you for reading my blog! Please stay curious and alert for new blogs on Asian scientific contributions and inventions.
-Mihika Singhania
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