The creation of the Naepo agri-bio convergence industry cluster, a flagship project of the 8th popularly elected Chungnam provincial government, is picking up speed. The Naepo agri-bio convergence industry cluster is a project to build an integrated smart farm complex, research support complex, and industrial complex on a 1,667,000 square-meter (500,000-pyeong) site in the Sapgyo-eup area by 2028 with an investment of 680.3 billion won.
A feasibility study was completed in Oct. last year, and a central investment review was finished in Apr. On Jun., work began to draw up the industrial complex plan. Ahead of the overall cluster plan, a separate service to establish the industrial complex plan for Celltrion's move-in also began in May, and the plan is expected to be approved in Dec.
The province plans to build an advanced distribution and logistics platform that includes bio technology development and demonstration research, cultivation of high-functional crops, and vertical farm research and development (R&D) for the Naepo agri-bio cluster. Chungnam's blueprint is to foster the cluster into a leader in fields from advanced bio to the future agri-industry. The province plans to proceed with administrative procedures as quickly as possible, start construction in the first half of 2027, and complete it in 2028.
◇ The future growth engine is "bio"… actively securing an R&D base
Chungnam, which has a strong base in Korea's key industries such as semiconductors and automobiles, is eyeing the bio industry as the next-generation growth engine. During the 8th popularly elected term, the province is focusing on expanding the bio industry base by establishing a comprehensive plan to foster the Chungnam bio industry and creating a new bio industry division.
Currently, in the biohealth field, the province is expanding R&D and support infrastructure for corporations around three areas: ▲ bio medical devices ▲ sleep industry ▲ microbiome.
To foster the bio medical device industry, a comprehensive bio medical support center opened in Sept. in the Asan R&D cluster zone. To secure a base for the sleep industry, which has rapidly emerged as a health management factor for modern people, a sleep industry promotion center opened in Mar. last year. In the human microbiome field, which refers to the collection of symbiotic and pathogenic microbes that coexist with the human body, the province is focusing on securing a base by promoting the construction of a "commercialization center" and a "process development center."
An Ho, head of Chungnam's Industry and Economy Office, said, "As Chungnam enters the latter half of the 8th popularly elected term, we are actively fostering the bio industry as a 50-year, 100-year future growth engine," adding, "Through a reorganization, the newly created bio industry division is operated with three teams: the bio policy team, the biohealth team, and the green bio team." He went on to say, "We will build the nation's only full-cycle support system for commercialization of human microbiome pharmaceuticals to drive a paradigm shift in the biopharmaceutical industry," and added, "In addition, we plan to build a green bio hub by fostering new high value-added agro-livestock industries linked to advanced bio technology."
◇ Naepo agri-bio cluster to become a strategic hub for the bio industry
The Naepo agri-bio cluster is the key to Chungnam's bio industry promotion. The province is currently pushing development by dividing the Naepo agri-bio cluster space into three large zones. First, an industrial complex of about 300,000 pyeong will be created. Celltrion, along with leading corporations, is slated to move in.
In Feb., the province signed an investment memorandum of agreement (MOA) worth 300 billion won with Celltrion. Including this, officials said 25 corporations have expressed investment intent totaling 750 billion won.
A research support complex of 50,000 pyeong will also be established. Three research support facilities — ▲ the Green Bio Venture Campus ▲ the global business support center for bioactive products ▲ the eco-friendly agricultural machinery digital technology R&D support center — have already been finalized as national government-funded public offering projects. In addition, the province plans to newly invite proposals for facilities such as ▲ a pet food commercialization support center ▲ a Foodtech support center to back research and development (R&D) across various industry sectors.
A smart farm complex will also be created on 150,000 pyeong. Of this, 40,000 pyeong inside the industrial complex zone and 110,000 pyeong outside the zone will be developed into a smart farm convergence complex. The smart farm convergence complex, where the latest smart farms will produce strawberries and leafy vegetables, broke ground last month. Greenhouses will break ground next month, with completion targeted for Aug. next year.
◇ Chungnam aims to become the "capital of smart farms"
With the Seoul metropolitan area as its hinterland market, Chungnam is expected to become a strategic hub for the smart farm industry. In agricultural distribution, logistics is key. This is because quickly supplying fresh vegetables to the market fetches good prices.
According to the province, agricultural corporation SP Agri is building a 60,000-pyeong greenhouse dedicated to summer strawberries in Unsan, Seosan. Strawberries, a cool-weather crop, bear fruit at 15 degrees or lower. As a representative winter and spring fruit, they are hard to enjoy in summer. SP Agri plans to overcome these climate limits with a smart farm facility equipped with a cooling system so consumers can enjoy strawberries even in summer. When all smart farms are completed in 2028, production is expected to exceed 4,000 tons.
Pamirése is creating a 3,000-pyeong strawberry export complex in Sapgyo, Yesan. Also, the smart farm startup IOcrops is building a 6,000-pyeong farm in Cheongra, Boryeong. Based on greenhouse automation solutions, it is developing an advanced farming system that automatically controls temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, and irrigation volume.
A provincial official said, "Chungnam is emerging as a production and distribution hub for smart farms based on various support policies," adding, "We will work to realize 'Chungnam, the capital of smart agriculture.'"
Governor Kim Tae-heum said, "Within my term, with a budget of 2 trillion won, we will create 2.53 million pyeong of smart farms, nurture 9,000 young farmers, and help at least 3,000 settle stably," emphasizing, "We have established a one-stop support system that allows young people to start farming if they have passion even without money, and we have prepared various revenue models such as rental, sale, and self-reliance types."