Thirteen K-smart-farm companies conduct Vietnam, Indonesia and China roadshow

Korean firms hold 210 consultations with more than 100 local buyers

Smart greenhouses, environmental controls and farm-management platforms showcased

South Korean firms and local buyers hold business consultations in Jakarta and Ho Chi Minh City as part of the Southeast Asia and China Smart Farm Export Roadshow, jointly organized by KOTRA and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs from Sept. 14 to Sept. 22. [KOTRA]
South Korean firms and local buyers hold business consultations in Jakarta and Ho Chi Minh City as part of the Southeast Asia and China Smart Farm Export Roadshow, jointly organized by KOTRA and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs from Sept. 14 to Sept. 22. [KOTRA]

South Korean smart-farm companies have launched a push into Asian markets, visiting Vietnam, Indonesia and China in quick succession. Thirteen firms held a total of 210 export consultations with more than 100 local buyers, covering smart greenhouses, automated equipment and farm-management platforms. In Wuhan, China, one company also held talks on a $100,000 vertical-farming technology deal.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) announced Monday that the K-Smart Farm Export Roadshow is running from Sept. 14 to Sept. 22, taking in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Jakarta in Indonesia, and Weifang and Wuhan in China.

Smart farms are agricultural systems that use information and communications technology to manage crop-growing conditions such as temperature, humidity, light and carbon dioxide levels. The technology has been expanding in recent years to incorporate AI and the Internet of Things, enabling automated analysis of crop conditions and real-time control of irrigation and ventilation.

According to Global Market Insights, the global smart-agriculture market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of around 10 percent. Asia, where demand for higher agricultural productivity is particularly strong, is seen as one of the fastest-growing markets.

The South Korean companies at the roadshow introduced a range of technologies to local firms — smart greenhouses and facility-cultivation systems, environmental-control and automation solutions, and farm-management platforms. Rather than simply selling products, the firms focused on identifying demand for equipment and systems tailored to each country's climate and agricultural conditions.

Indonesia is a market with strong interest in facility-agriculture technology capable of producing stable yields in its hot and humid climate. As consumption of fruits and vegetables rises, demand for smart farms that can maintain consistent quality and produce year-round is also growing.

KOTRA said this creates a new market opportunity for South Korean companies that can automatically regulate temperature and humidity inside greenhouses or use AI and IoT to monitor crop growth.

Vietnam is also pursuing a government-led digital transformation of its agricultural sector. The Vietnamese government unveiled a digital-transformation plan for agriculture and rural development in 2022, encouraging the adoption of smart farms and data-driven farming. The Ho Chi Minh City consultations brought together Korean technology companies and local buyers around those same priorities.

In China, the participating firms explored approaches that go beyond straightforward exports — including technology licensing agreements, joint ventures to enter the Chinese market, and partnerships with local companies to pursue projects in third countries.

In Weifang, Shandong Province — a major vegetable-producing region — the Korean companies visited local firms operating smart greenhouse complexes, seed research and development facilities, and large-scale farms to observe production firsthand. They then held one-on-one consultations with local buyers to explore potential cooperation.

In Wuhan, the firms identified smart-agriculture demand across a wide range of sectors, from grain and freshwater aquaculture to tea production and pig farming. One South Korean participant, identified only as Company G, held talks with a local firm on a $100,000 vertical-farming technology export deal. Vertical farming stacks crops across multiple layers in an indoor space, boosting output even on limited land.

The 210 consultations conducted by South Korean companies at the roadshow will serve as the basis for KOTRA's follow-up support, with the agency planning to help convert leads into contracts and subsequent projects.

The government also views smart farms as a priority export category for the agricultural industry and has been stepping up support for overseas project bids. In the K-Food+ Export Strategy announced this month, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said it would provide tailored consulting to smart-farm consortiums and support the signing of MOUs and contracts for overseas projects before the end of the year.

Exports under the broader K-Food+ category, which includes agricultural and food products, are also on the rise. Cumulative exports through July reached $8.32 billion, up 5.3 percent from the same period last year and a record high for that period. The government has set an annual export target of $16 billion for this year.

"Major Asian countries including China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos are accelerating their adoption of smart farms to modernize their agriculture," said Kim Myung-hee, KOTRA executive vice president and head of the industrial innovation and growth division. "We will work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to identify overseas demand and provide hands-on support so that our companies can become the best partners in smart agriculture."


kwater@heraldcorp.com