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RDA, APEC co-host workshop on digital agriculture in Incheon
Participants of a joint workshop co-hosted by the Rural Development Administration and APEC's Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group pose during the event in Incheon, Tuesday. Courtesy of Rural Development Administration
By Ko Dong-hwan
The Rural Development Administration (RDA) announced Wednesday that it co-hosted a two-day workshop on digital agricultural technology with the Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
Established in 1996 under the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Food Security, the ATCWG aims to strengthen the capacity of agriculture and related industries by sharing knowledge and experience in fields such as agriculture, biotechnology and the management of plant, animal and genetic resources.
According to the RDA, the workshop was held Tuesday and Wednesday in Songdo, Incheon, as part of the Third Senior Officials’ Meeting Food Security Week, which runs from Monday to Sunday.
The event focused on leveraging digital agricultural technologies to address climate change and enhance food productivity. It also served as a platform for sharing best practices, exploring strategies for broader adoption and offering hands-on experiences with Korea’s agricultural innovations.
Approximately 70 participants from APEC member economies, including representatives from the ATCWG, academia and industry, attended the event. The first day featured a conference, while the second day included field visits and a general discussion.
The first day of the conference featured three sessions: digital agricultural technologies and case studies aimed at enhancing climate change resilience; applications of digital technologies for food security; and the challenges and limitations associated with digital agriculture.
Experts from Korea, Japan, Australia, China, and other APEC member economies delivered presentations.
On the second day, participants visited the National Agricultural Museum of Korea to explore the country’s history of agricultural technology development. They also toured the central branch of the National Agrobiodiversity Center under the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, which plays a key role in safeguarding genetic resources to support future food sovereignty and biodiversity.
During the general discussion, participants reached a broad consensus on the urgent need to establish a shared platform and network to facilitate the exchange of technology and information seen as essential for driving innovative and sustainable development of digital agricultural technologies across the Asia-Pacific region.
A joint workshop co-hosted by the Rural Development Administration and APEC's Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group takes place in Incheon, Tuesday. Courtesy of Rural Development Administration
The RDA underscored that digital agriculture serves as a key engine for advancing this year’s Food Security Week theme: “Driving Innovation in Agri-food Systems for Shared Prosperity.”
“Through cooperation with APEC member economies, we will establish a foundation for spreading digital agricultural technologies and strengthening farmers’ capacities,” RDA Administrator Kwon Jae-han said.
“We will actively pursue joint research and development initiatives and widely promote Korea’s advanced digital agricultural technologies to position the country as a global leader in digital agriculture.”