Announced at the 5th Meeting of Ministers for Science and Technology, the Agriculture and Rural Artificial Intelligence Transformation (AX) Strategy places inclusivity at the centre of the country’s digital agriculture ambitions.
This marked a shift away from earlier smart farming efforts that mainly benefited technologically advanced or larger enterprises.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) said the initiative aims to guarantee that no farmer is excluded from the benefits of AI, “regardless of farm size or circumstances”.
Under the new approach, AI support will extend throughout the production cycle and into distribution, consumption and rural living.
“AI is no longer a choice but a core foundation determining the survival and future competitiveness of agriculture and rural areas, said Minister Song Mi‑reong.
He added that 2026 “will be the starting point of AX to overcome the crises of climate change and ageing, creating positive changes that make AI a reality across agriculture and rural communities.”
At the heart of the strategy is the government’s commitment to ease labour burdens for farmers through practical and cost‑effective tools.
Open‑field growers, who often face significant workloads due to repetitive manual tasks, will receive packages of AI solutions and corresponding infrastructure, prioritised in major growing regions.
The ministry plans to develop standardised smart farm models tailored for small and medium‑sized farms, enabling labour‑saving automation without the need for large capital investment or complex installations.
Dedicated experience spaces will also be created to allow farmers to trial AI technologies before adoption.
Expanding AI across the value chain
As part of its broader push to make AI a standard tool across the sector, the government will also deepen digitalisation within agri‑food distribution networks.
AI systems will be expanded across receiving, sorting and shipping processes at smart processing centres, which act as distribution hubs in production areas.
Korea plans to establish 300 such centres by 2030, alongside three pilot logistics chains tailored for online transactions that will launch this year.
In livestock, the ministry will introduce AI‑based carcass grading to enhance accuracy and reliability. T
wo pig slaughterhouses will be selected for AI grading in 2024, while AI equipment for cattle grading will continue expanding, reaching 52 sites nationwide.
The government expects AI grading adoption for major livestock, including cattle and pigs, to rise from 19.4 per cent in 2025 to 70 per cent by 2030.
Alongside productivity improvements, the strategy includes targeted measures to strengthen resilience and reduce risk at the farm level.
MAFRA plans to deploy AI‑based disaster‑risk maps derived from weather and hazard data and will introduce predictive modelling for underground water availability to support proactive resource management.
AI‑enabled disease monitoring will also expand, with drones assessing migratory bird activity and unmanned operations piloted at key disinfection facilities from June 2026.
To further reduce financial barriers, cities and counties will be encouraged to establish smart agricultural machinery sharing centres, allowing farmers to access advanced equipment without the costs associated with ownership.
The ministry will also adjust policy loan schemes to reduce the cost burden of adopting high‑value AI machinery and solutions.
Long-term AI goals
The AX strategy supports long‑term democratisation of technology through national digital infrastructure.
A new National Agriculture AX Platform will foster AI‑driven demonstration farms in collaboration with the private sector, while the so‑called NEXT Farm project will focus on unmanned, autonomous field operations using intelligent machinery and drones.
The government intends to develop AI foundation models tailored to major crops such as soybeans and wheat, with the aim of extending these technologies across more crop categories over time.
A dedicated agricultural data centre will underpin these developments by improving access to high‑quality digital resources for both public and private users.
“As the ministry responsible for AI platforms, we will actively support the AI transformation of agriculture and rural areas,” said Vice Minister Bae Kyung‑Hoon of the Ministry of Science and ICT
He added that the ministry will cooperate closely with MAFRA and the Rural Development Administration to strengthen agricultural AI technologies and systematic data utilisation.
