Smart Farming
KT announced on Jan. 18 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Aso Farm Land of Japan (CEO Katsuyuki Kitagawa), the world’s largest agriculture-themed park, at Aso Farm Land in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, to jointly develop a large "smart farming theme park" in Korea.
The two companies will encourage returning to farm and vitalize rural areas by developing smart farming solutions and the agriculture-themed park. In order to do so, KT plans to implement its latest smart farming solutions developed by KT Institute of Convergence Technology, a research institute run by the company, such as tools for maintaining and monitoring greenhouses, and cultivation systems. The Japanese company will provide KT with its theme park contents, management know-how in agricultural theme parks, management manuals, technology and educational support.
The smart farming theme park, which is pursued by KT, will be largely divided into smart farms, residential area, accommodations for tourists and experience facilities, providing the self-contained ecosystem. Those who returned to farming can live in the residential area at the theme park and operate smart farms or get a job in the experience facilities.
Aso Farm Land is the world's largest smart farm-based agricultural food and health theme park combined with resort facilities in Kumamoto Prefecture of Japan. The theme park is one of popular tourist attractions, attracting 4 million visitors per year. It is also considered a successful case of agriculture-themed park development, which combines various themes such as nature, agricultural production and processing facilities.