AI to boost agricultural productivity, improve quality of life for farmers

Officials examine crop growth at the Korea Agriculture Technology Promotion Agency's (KOAT) smart farm model undergoing testing in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, in this December 2025 photo. Courtesy of KOAT

The government on Wednesday unveiled a new agenda aimed at maximizing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to boost agricultural productivity and improve the quality of life for farmers across Korea.

The initiative, jointly announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Science and ICT, builds upon the government’s previous smart farm program, which had largely focused on productivity. The new road map broadens the scope to include agricultural distribution and improvement of farmers’ daily lives.

The scope of the plan's beneficiaries will also be expanded from a limited group of high-performing farms to farmers nationwide.

Under the slogan “AI for easier farming, more stable supply and more vibrant rural communities,” the initiative outlines 13 policy tasks under four key categories.

One of the central goals is to raise productivity across a broader range of farms. To achieve this, the government plans to develop and expand smart farm models that can replace labor-intensive tasks that currently require long hours of manual work. Shared smart farm machinery centers will also be introduced for the first time.

New technologies using AI-powered machines and drones for autonomous farming — dubbed “NEXT Farm” — will be jointly developed by the two ministries and the Rural Development Administration, a research agency under the agriculture ministry. Data centers dedicated to the agricultural sector are also expected to accelerate the plan’s artificial intelligence transformation (AX) across farms.

A smart farm testing tropical plants in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, developed by the Gyeongsangbuk-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services / Courtesy of North Gyeongsang Province

Another major focus of the initiative is applying AI to the nationwide distribution of agricultural products. A new type of logistics facility, the smart Agricultural Products Processing Center which uses AI to manage receiving, sorting and shipping processes, will be established at 300 locations by 2030. This year, the smart facilities will be introduced at three sites.

The government also plans to apply AI to livestock grading to improve accuracy and consumer trust. Two slaughterhouses processing pork will be designated this year to introduce AI-based grading systems, while the technology will be expanded to the country’s 52 beef processing facilities.

Authorities aim to raise the share of pork and beef graded using AI from 19.4 percent in 2025 to 70 percent by 2030.

The plan also seeks to improve living conditions in rural communities by expanding AI-powered public services. So-called “smart rural communities,” which provide AI-based services in areas such as transportation, daily living and farming support, will increase to at least 100 nationwide by 2030.

The government also hopes to revitalize rural tourism, targeting an increase in the share of visitors traveling to agricultural regions from 44.4 percent in 2024 to 55 percent by 2030.

“AI is no longer a choice but a core foundation that will determine the survival and future competitiveness of agriculture and rural communities,” Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung said. “We will make 2026 a starting point for agricultural AX to overcome challenges such as climate change and a rapidly aging population.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said the ICT ministry will actively support the digital transformation of agriculture.

“As the ministry responsible for AI platforms, we will actively support the AX of agriculture and rural communities by leveraging our expertise in areas such as physical AI technologies and systematic data utilization,” he said.

The initiative has drawn attention from farmers as well.

Choi Beom-jin, general manager of the Korean Successor Advanced Farmers Federation, welcomed the government’s effort to apply AI not only to agricultural productivity but also to farmers’ everyday lives.

“The government has designated agricultural AX as a national policy,” Choi said. “The plan will not only boost productivity but also improve farmers’ welfare and convenience in areas such as services, education and culture.”

He added that practical business models that can be implemented locally will be key to the policy’s success.

“One example would be allowing local residents to install photovoltaic panels on unused land in their communities and share the profits from electricity sales,” he said. “I hope such models will spread quickly across rural areas.”