Global Leaders Embrace Digital Agriculture in Korea Summit
Seoul, Wednesday, 9 July 2025.
On July 8, 2025, international leaders convened in South Korea to enhance digital agricultural practices, focusing on initiatives like AI and IoT for climate-smart rural resilience.
Strategic Innovations in Digital Agriculture
On July 8, 2025, leaders at the 393rd Session of the WSIS Action Line C7: e-Agriculture gathered to propel digital advancements in agriculture. This session was part of the broader WSIS+20 High-Level Event, underscoring the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) commitment to leveraging digital innovation to build sustainable agri-food systems. FAO emphasized the need for digital tools that benefit even the most remote agricultural communities, focusing on inclusivity and the reduction of the digital divide [1].
Key Initiatives: AI, IoT, and Digital Villages
Central to the discussions were initiatives like the ‘e-Agriculture Community of Practice’ and the ‘Thousand Digital Villages Initiative’, which focus on integrating advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) into agriculture. These technologies are targeted at enhancing rural resilience and facilitating climate-smart agriculture across Asia. The FAO’s leadership in these areas is pivotal in promoting innovation ecosystems and ensuring equitable access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) for underserved communities [1].
Japan’s Smart Farming Technologies
Japan has announced plans to implement AI-powered autonomous tractors and drones in an effort to increase rice yields by 20% over the next five years. These smart farming technologies are set to enhance productivity and cater to the growing demand in international markets, particularly from neighboring South Korea. This innovative approach ties into a broader strategy to strengthen Japan’s agricultural exports and improve efficiency in rice production [2].
South Korea’s Biotechnological Advances
Simultaneously, South Korea is investing 500 million won, approximately $400,000, in developing new high-yielding rice strains. Led by research efforts at Seoul National University, this initiative leverages gene-editing and other biotechnological advancements to create rice varieties that are better suited for local climate conditions. These efforts reflect a commitment to enhancing food security while reducing the environmental impact of rice farming [3].