The future growth of the agricultural and food industry will be discussed through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology, and robotics for manufacturing innovation and the development of age-friendly food products. The government plans to integrate advanced technologies throughout food production and distribution to enhance the competitiveness of K-food in response to an aging society.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it will hold the 16th National Food Cluster International Conference and the 5th Age-Friendly Food Industry Symposium on November 4 at COEX in Seoul, in collaboration with the Korea Food Industry Cluster Promotion Agency.
K-food exports continue to grow, reaching $8.13 billion by the end of September this year, a 4.6% increase compared to the same period last year, marking the highest performance to date. The government believes that innovation is necessary to enhance competitiveness across the food industry, from product planning to production and distribution, to sustain export growth.
In particular, advanced technologies such as AI, digital transformation (DX), and robotics are emerging as key elements that will change production and manufacturing methods in the food industry. The Ministry is promoting industry innovation based on advanced technologies through initiatives like the 'K-Food Smart Manufacturing Alliance' and the 'First Basic Plan for Food Tech Industry Development.'
The first part of the National Food Cluster International Conference will focus on sharing technological innovation cases under the theme '3X Innovation Strategy for Global Advancement of K-Food.' Stephanie Frank, Senior Vice President at Siemens, will deliver the keynote speech, discussing topics such as product planning using AI, digital twin-based production and distribution simulations, and physical AI collaborative robots. A special session will feature Abhishek Gupta, CEO of India Agro, who will introduce K-food culture and its globalization potential.
The symposium will also address strategies for fostering the food industry in response to an aging society. As South Korea is set to enter a super-aged society in 2024, there is an increasing demand for food that considers health, nutrition, and convenience. The Ministry is promoting consumer awareness and supporting the growth of related industries by designating age-friendly products as 'Nul-Pyeon Food.'
The second part of the Age-Friendly Food Industry Symposium will explore the theme 'Food for All: Discussing the Future of Age-Friendly Food,' examining current policy support and community-linked case studies. The development process of Japan's age-friendly food industry and global market prospects will also be shared, seeking to identify the role and growth direction of related industries in a super-aged society.
The event will be conducted on-site and will also be live-streamed on the YouTube channels 'Nongleowa TV' and 'National Food Cluster TV.'
Jung Kyung-seok, Director of Food Industry Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, "This event will provide an opportunity to examine changes in the food industry through future innovation technologies such as AI, digital technology, and robotics, as well as new food demands arising from an aging society. We will continue to communicate and support the industry to ensure that K-food can establish itself as a new growth engine in response to technological innovation and changing consumer demands."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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