In a significant stride towards bolstering food security and technological exchange, South Korea is set to construct a demonstration smart farm in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This initiative underscores the growing importance of the Middle East as a key market for Korea’s burgeoning agtech sector. Over the past two years, the region has absorbed approximately 60% of South Korea’s smart farm exports and construction orders, driven by a surging demand for factory-style smart farms.
The Demo Smart Farm, announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) on April 21, is poised to serve as a gateway for Korean smart farm companies to penetrate the Middle Eastern market. Located within the National Agricultural and Animal Resources Research Centre, the smart farm will be a hub for showcasing advanced agricultural technologies.
The smart farm complex will span around 2,000 square metres, integrating vertical farms and glass greenhouses. It will exhibit a range of innovative technologies, including agricultural robots and environment control systems. The project is slated for completion by December this year, marking a significant milestone in the shared goal of enhancing food security for both nations.
One of the major South Korean players in this project is Nongshim, renowned globally for its instant ramen products. Last July, Nongshim unveiled plans to establish and operate a vertical farm and glass greenhouse hybrid model in Riyadh. The company aims to cultivate leafy vegetables like frilled ice and kale in vertical farms, while cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and paprika will be grown in glass greenhouses.
Nongshim has already secured partnerships with major retailers and e-tailers, including Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket, Amazon, and Noon, to distribute its produce. The company is part of a consortium with three small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): S’farm, which will handle greenhouse operation and crop cultivation technology transfer; ioCrops, developing AI farm management technology; and Pomit, a smart farm plant company.
This project builds on Nongshim’s previous success in exporting its smart farm technology to Oman in 2022, which significantly reduces crop cultivation time. The Demo Smart Farm in Riyadh is expected to further accelerate the export of Korean smart farms to the Middle East, fostering stronger cooperation between the governments of South Korea and Saudi Arabia. This initiative not only highlights the technological prowess of South Korea’s agtech sector but also paves the way for enhanced food security and agricultural innovation in the region.