Startup accelerator Sopung Connect held the NHarvestX 2026 results showcase at On Dream So Society in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday, the company announced Wednesday. [Sopung Connect]
Startup accelerator Sopung Connect held the NHarvestX 2026 results showcase at On Dream So Society in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday, the company announced Wednesday. [Sopung Connect]

7 agtech firms collaborate with Nonghyup affiliates

Companies propose technology adoption, purchases and further pilots

Seven agricultural technology startups and affiliates of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, or Nonghyup, gathered to share the results of a six-month technology pilot covering AI-based crop breeding, smart farm environmental controls and agricultural byproduct recycling, and to discuss commercialization plans.

Startup accelerator Sopung Connect said Wednesday it held the NHarvestX 2026 results showcase at On Dream So Society in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday.

NHarvestX is a program that validates technologies and services developed by startups in real business environments, matched to the on-site needs of Nonghyup affiliates and related organizations. Sopung Connect manages the program, designing pilot projects and supporting collaboration between participating companies.

Seven companies took part: Banseok Industrial, Robas, Alt2, FarmConnect, Power2Farms, Green Continue and Foparents.

Robas piloted an AI-based integrated agricultural breeding data solution with Nongwoo Bio. FarmConnect worked with Nongso Agricultural Cooperative on AI agent-powered bee pollination farming consultations, while Power2Farms verified low-cost smart farm crop-layer environmental control technology with Namwon Agricultural Cooperative.

About 70 people attended the event, including officials from the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Nonghyup affiliates and related organizations, and investors from the Agricultural Mother Fund.

Participating companies presented their pilot results and proposed follow-up cooperation to Nonghyup, including technology adoption, product purchases and expanded pilots. Investment linkage possibilities were also discussed through individual consultations. However, whether any purchase contracts or follow-on investments were finalized was not disclosed.

"This is a program that connects Nonghyup's on-site needs with startup technology to verify applicability in real business environments," Sopung Connect CEO Choi Kyung-hee said. "We will continue to expand follow-up cooperation opportunities between participating companies and Nonghyup."

Sopung Connect is an accelerator established in 2025, built around early-stage investment and business growth support professionals from Sopung Ventures.


hong@heraldcorp.com