South Korean Chungnam province commits to smart farming
Past November, the Chungnam province (also known as South Chungcheong Province) in South Korea has solidified its commitment to becoming a 'smart agriculture capital' by signing a memorandum of understanding with the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, through the Netherlands embassy in Seoul. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlines collaborative efforts in operating a smart farm demonstration complex, innovation in energy systems and advancing global professional education.
Memorandum of Understanding
Governor Kim Tae-heum hosted a meeting mid-November, where he engaged with Frederik Vossenaar, Special Envoy of the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. The meeting served as a platform for discussing the details of the MoU signed on the previous day. This agreement marks the first time a local government in Korea has formalized a memorandum with the central government of the Netherlands.
Key Points of Cooperation
The cooperative efforts between South Chungcheong Province and the Netherlands encompass several key areas aimed at advancing smart agriculture in the region and introducing Dutch educational programs customized for young farmers and agricultural startups in South Korea. The role of the Chungnam Province is to provide for the necessary administrative and financial support for establishing and coordinating the mutually agreed projects.
One goal of the collaboration is to develop a horticultural demonstration project with state-of-the-art greenhouse technology and knowledge from the Netherlands. Next to that, as a follow-up of a Dutch-Korean energy transition trade mission in March last year, an energy project will be developed. Dutch and Korean stakeholders work together to develop Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) technology for smart farming in the Chungnam province. Therefore, ATES Korea signed the MoU. Also signatory to the MoU is the Korean Midland Power Corporation (KOMIPO). The role of KOMIPO is primarily concerned with reducing the carbon footprint through the usage of wasteheat as an energy source in the smart farming project. Ideally, the stakeholders manage to combine ATES technology with the usage of waste heat. On top of these two projects, stakeholders from the Netherlands will support the development of educational programs that align with the smart farming project, to provide training in knowledge and skills that are crucial in high-tech horticulture.
Chungnam Global Horti Complex
Aside from the MoU, the Chungnam Government signed the ‘Smart Agriculture Promotion Business Agreement’ with 13 domestic and foreign institutions, companies, and organizations. The Chungnam Global Horti Complex will be built on a 75.8 ha site in Seosan. The smart farm agricultural industry convergence complex is scheduled to include an agricultural bio complex, an agricultural experience complex, a smart farm village, and a public smart farm.
Transforming Korean agriculture
Governor Kim outlined Chungnam’s smart agriculture development plan during the meeting. He stressed the need for mutual exchanges in agricultural research and development, human resource development, and smart agriculture education. Moreover, he expressed a vision for transforming Korean agriculture by adopting world-class smart farm professional education and technology exchange. Governor Kim drew a parallel between the arable land areas of Korea and the Netherlands but highlighted the significant difference in agricultural exports. He emphasized the necessity to restructure the agricultural system and rural areas, making education and technology exchange the cornerstone of this transformation.
Future Prospects
The collaboration between the Chungnam province and the Netherlands holds promise for ushering in a new era of cooperation in agricultural innovation and sustainability. With a focus on smart farming technologies, education, and the exchange of expertise, this partnership has the potential to bridge many gaps and boost technological advancement of Korean agriculture. The department of agriculture, nature and food quality of the embassy of the Netherlands in Seoul will keep informing Dutch stakeholders on the opportunities to cooperate with Korean stakeholders in the Chungnam province and beyond.
