LG CNS is joining hands with South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and South Jeolla Province.

A new smart farm will be built on 54.3 acres of farmland in Naju, a city in the country’s south-western region. About the size of 76 football fields, the project is a joint venture between Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and South Jeolla Province. LG CNS, the IT division of the South Korean conglomerate LG, will help the venture become a smart farm growing high-quality crops using AI and digital technology. (The Korea Times)

How it works

Tens of thousands of IoT sensors and other relevant equipment will be placed strategically around the vast farm to collect data pertaining to the growth patterns of the crop through the various stages from sowing to harvesting, as well as environmental data.

The sensors will also pick up data on soil conditions, weather, temperature and humidity and pests. LG’s smart farm intelligent platform will then process and analyze this wealth of data and issue guidance to the farmers to optimize the output and quality of their crops.

“For example, in case of potato farming, soil data and potato growth data are analyzed to advise on the appropriate amount and timing of fertilizing,” the company explained. “The platform also guides an optimal water supply schedule based on soil moisture levels and weather conditions.”

That’s not all. The AI platform can also provide automated agricultural machinery management services using driverless tractors and drones. Farmers can therefore run these equipment on their field remotely.

Depending on the success of the project, LG will extend its smart farm technology to apartment-type smart farms, rooftop smart farms and advanced glass greenhouse-type smart farms in Sejong Smart City, the country’s first national pilot city.

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Image: LG CNS employees promote the company’s intelligent smart farm platform. Courtesy of LG CNS