The Rural Development Administration announced plans to accelerate agricultural innovation this year, focusing on digital transformation and mechanization. The aim is to enhance agricultural productivity and create future growth engines through advanced technology and public-private cooperation.
On the 21st, the Rural Development Administration announced its major business promotion plan for 2025.
First, the Rural Development Administration plans to establish the 'Korean Digital Breeding Platform' to digitize the entire process of variety development this year. By utilizing biotechnology and big data, it will integrate and manage breeding data, aiming to shorten the variety development period from the current 13 years to 7 years. This platform is scheduled to be opened to the private sector starting in 2027.
There is a plan to mechanize the entire production process of eight major crops, including onions and cabbages, by 2027. This year, it will begin developing seven types of agricultural machinery, including transplanting machines for onions and cabbages, and expand the dissemination of technologies needed for the mechanization of cultivation.
Responding to climate change has also been established as a key task. The Rural Development Administration will predict changes in the cultivation areas of high-altitude radishes, onions, and cabbages, and cultivate about 18 climate-adaptive varieties each year. Additionally, it plans to expand early warning services for agricultural weather disasters nationwide and provide integrated weather information related to pests and livestock farming to enhance farmers' response capabilities.
Using an agricultural satellite scheduled to be launched in the second half of the year, it plans to precisely monitor the production conditions of major crops and changes in agricultural land use. Furthermore, it will promote measures to reduce agricultural labor intensity and increase work efficiency by developing vehicle-type autonomous robots and wearable robots.
The Rural Development Administration will also focus on the development of green bio-technology and the high-value addition of agricultural by-products. Starting this year, it will intensify the 'Eco-Circulation Technology Development Project,' which includes the development of industrial materials using citrus by-products and mushroom mycelium. Concurrently, research on personalized food ('MEfood') and the development of future food technologies based on food tech will expand the added value of agriculture.
Kwon Jae-han, the head of the Rural Development Administration, said, 'Agriculture is an industry with infinite innovation potential, converging with advanced science and technology,' adding, 'We will do our best to improve the quality of life for farmers and citizens and enhance agricultural competitiveness through public-private cooperation and exchanges with domestic and international experts.'