AI Learns from Experts to Guide Novice Farmers in South Korean Smart Farms

Even novice farmers can now successfully cultivate crops like paprika thanks to advanced AI smart farm technology being developed and tested in Goheung County, South Jeolla Province. At the Goheung Smart Farm Innovation Valley, a 660-square-meter glass greenhouse showcases rows of paprika plants reaching well over adult height.

When the intense August sun raises the internal temperature, the greenhouse automatically responds. Shade curtains smoothly descend, roof vents open, and the ventilation system activates. Sensors both inside and outside the greenhouse continuously monitor sunlight, temperature, humidity, and wind. An artificial intelligence system analyzes this data to determine the optimal growing environment and automatically adjusts the vents, curtains, and climate control systems.

This facility is a demonstration greenhouse operated by GreenSys, an agricultural technology company, which is currently testing its AI smart farm technology for paprika cultivation under a commission from the Rural Development Administration. Unlike traditional smart farms that operate based on pre-programmed settings for temperature and humidity, newer systems utilize AI to learn from the cultivation data of successful, experienced farmers.

The AI then uses this learned knowledge to make decisions about the optimal environmental conditions and control the farm's facilities accordingly. This adaptive approach promises to make high-level farming techniques more accessible, potentially revolutionizing crop production and supporting less experienced agriculturalists.