The Smart Farm Innovation Valley (SFIV)

Smart Farm Innovation Valley (SFIV) is an innovation ecosystem made up of an incubator for smart farm trainees, rental farm, a demonstration complex, hinterland village, energy facility and a big data centre. The and Goheung-gun in Korea) nationwide by 2022. Another Smart Farm Innovation Valley in Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is also being established, where strawberries and tomatoes are the main crops; young farmers are offered a one-stop mentoring service along their new journeys, beginning from their entries to farming and continuing their growth as farmers and establishments of firm farming roots. Local farmers can also receive assistance exporting their products, such as finding new overseas sales channels. Various other activities are also carried out related to exporting smart farm factories, conducting R&D on robotics/automation and insect pests/diseases forecasts, and exporting Sangju strawberries and tomatoes to countries outside Korea. So far, two SFIVs are operational: the SFIV of Gimje-si, which opened in 2021, and the second one in Sangju in Gyeongsangbuk-do, which opened in 2022.

Lead (category)

Government agency

Name of initiative lead (and partners)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Categories of Digital initiative deliverables

Specific ICT technology product and/or service delivery

Technology-neutral supporting services (incubation, finance, training, etc)

ICT products/solutions and services by category

Digital Agriculture

Digital Agrifood Services

Digital Social Services (Education, Health, Skills)

Non ICT products and services (deliverables)

The rental Smart Farm offers loans and subsidies to young entrepreneurs to start businesses in smart farming Incubator for smart farm trainees Greenhouse machines Training & capacity building for young agri-professionals Youth empowerment Knowledge sharing of best practices

Business and governance structure

Being implemented by a private sector organization in collaboration and support from Government of Republic of Korea and research institutions

DI ICT-deliverables format

Internet of Things / Sensors

Digital education

Precision agriculture

Smart greenhouse management

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Primary stakeholders (beneficiaries, actors, enablers)

Youth networks

Farmers

Farm organizations

Agribusiness / private organization

Size, scale or scope of primary stakeholders

Habitants of first valley, Gimje-si in North Jeolla Province, established among 4 valleys in ROK

Digital Initiative development Stage

Proof of concept demonstrated - initial operationalization (but institutional, governance incomplete)

Measurable impacts on primary stakeholders and target beneficiaries

The SFIV initiative has several key impact areas: 1. Drive growth in agricultural household incomes and enhance farmers’ competitiveness, through digital transformation 2. Attract young people to the agricultural sector and rural areas, and create stable, good quality jobs 3. Established Smart Farm Innovation Valleys and Startup Incubation Centers in four select locations across the country 4. Achieved meaningful results through young farmer training/education, technological innovation in agriculture, and export promotion

Initiative geographic scope (or coverage) (national, regional, sector specific, specific user co-horts etc)

Regional

Gimje-si city and Sangju City (Gyeongsangbuk-do), North Jeolla Province, ROK

On-line resource links (Web-page links, links to videos, links to reports, etc)

Main DI webpage

Other useful link

Other useful link

Link to Digital village

Link to Digital solution