Korea Speeds up Nurturing Researchers to Develop Converged Technologies 

of Agri-food Sector and Related Scientific Sectors

Sejong, 13 June 2024 —The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) selected participants in the R&D Project for 

Nurturing Researchers on Convergence of the Agri-food Products Sector and the Related Science & Technology Sectors (hereafter cited as 

the R&D project). The ministry will invest a total of KRW 28.5 billion in the project over the next five years from 2024 to produce researchers 

in the fields of smart farming, green biotechnology, carbon neutrality, and food-tech amid a growing importance of the convergence industry 

of agriculture and related sectors that creates new added value in agriculture and rural farming areas.

The ministry aims to make a shift in the paradigm of Korea’s agro-industry through technological innovation. To achieve this goal, through 

the R&D project, the ministry aims to nurture researchers studying the convergence of agriculture and scientific sectors, as well as develop 

innovative technologies through interdisciplinary collaboration between colleges of agriculture and colleges of other scientific sectors located 

in different areas across the nation. Under the R&D project, each research team will receive KRW 5.7 billion for education and training courses, 

research activities, and others over the next five years. 

The ministry has subdivided green biotechnology into plant, animal, and digital fields and then selected research teams in those fields. The research 

team of the plant field, led by Seoul National University and comprising FarmHannong (a producer of agriculture chemicals products), 

NONGWOO BIO (a seed production company), and others, runs an industry internship programme. 

The research team in the animal field, led by Chungbuk National University and joined by Chonnam National University, and Gyeongsang National 

University, nurtures globally-competent researchers through exchanges of graduate students with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.  

In the digital field, Chonnam National University has teamed up with Chungnam National University and leads joint research and development of 

agricultural technologies converged with related sectors such as AI, robotics, biotechnology, intelligent agricultural equipment, and so on to achieve 

optimal agricultural productivity.

In the carbon neutrality field, Hankyong National University and Sangji University have set up a joint education centre in the greater Seoul area to 

nurture researchers studying carbon neutrality for agriculture and rural areas of the region encompassing Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do, provinces 

in the northern part of South Korea. In the food-tech field, a consortium has been formed by Seoul National University taking the leadership of research, 

Pohang University of Science and Technology owning specialized technologies (artificial intelligence, internet of things, and food-tech), Kyungpook 

National University (smart manufacturing technologies for the food and beverage industry), and Chonnam National University (food upcycling). 

The consortium provides education on food-tech convergence technologies and develops related core technologies.   

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has formed a consultative body of the MAFRA, a public agency, policy experts, 

and technology specialists to closely manage the R&D project by closely monitoring the progress of each team’s project, improving related regulatory 

systems, and holding an academic conference. This is expected to contribute to achieving innovation-driven growth of the agri-food industry, 

and addressing the challenges in agricultural policies.