[Edaily Reporter PARK JI-AE ] On the 21st of last month, when a heat wave warning was in effect, at Farm Eight, a smart farm vertical farm in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. Although the midday temperature exceeded 30 degrees, a cool breeze greeted us the moment we opened the door to the cultivation room. On shelves illuminated by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) instead of sunlight, green leafy vegetables were growing in layers. In this sealed space, isolated from the outside weather, not only temperature and humidity but also light intensity and nutrients—key to crop growth—were being consistently regulated.

A Farm8 representative explained, “While it is possible to manage temperature and humidity in conventional greenhouses, it is difficult to maintain a consistent level of sunlight.” They added, “Smart farms overcome this challenge by utilizing vertical space and supplying the optimal nutrients needed by crops, thereby reducing the uncertainty in production caused by climate change.”

As extreme weather events—such as heat waves and torrential rains—continue to cause repeated spikes in agricultural prices, smart farms are emerging not merely as a new agricultural technology but as an “alternative for the food supply chain.” This is because they can produce agricultural products stably year-round, compensating for the limitations of open-field and greenhouse cultivation, where yields and prices fluctuate significantly depending on weather conditions.

According to data on the status of smart farm policy implementation provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to Edaily on the 9th, the area under smart farm cultivation increased by 3,180 ha (48.6%) from 6,540 ha in 2021 to 9,720 ha last year. This represents an expansion equivalent to about 11 times the area of Yeouido in just four years. The adoption rate of smart farms relative to the total area of protected horticulture (such as greenhouses and plastic tunnels) rose by 5.7 percentage points during the same period, from 11.8% to 17.5%. However, compared to Germany (79%), the Netherlands (50%), and the United States (27%), South Korea is still in its infancy.

The need to expand smart farming is growing ever more urgent. Last year, a sharp drop in lettuce supply due to adverse fall weather and insufficient sunlight led some restaurants to remove lettuce from their menus or use substitute vegetables, even resulting in the emergence of “lettuce-free burgers.” This year as well, the price of a 4-kg box of spinach jumped 3.6-fold, rising from 12,503 won in mid-June to 45,633 won in early August.

The issue is economic viability. Reducing the burden of high initial investment and operating costs, while expanding the range of crops cultivated through government-backed technology development and financial support, is cited as a key challenge for the widespread adoption of smart farms.

An official from Farm8 stated, “We need technological and policy support to reduce the burden of initial investment and operating costs and expand the range of crops grown.” The industry believes that, alongside government support, securing stable sales channels—such as long-term purchase contracts with distribution and food companies—is essential for smart farms to establish themselves as a reliable food supply chain in the era of the climate crisis.