Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) has decided to support Muju County's project to establish a leased smart farm complex to attract young people to highland farming areas.

To this end, JBNU signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at 11:00 a.m. on the 9th with Muju County (Mayor Hwang In-hong), Agricultural Corporation Muju Smart Farm Co., Ltd. (Representative Jang Un-hap), and HYNE Co., Ltd. (Representative Im Jong-deok).

Muju County has recently sought to transform agricultural production methods in response to the aging farming population, which is a regional issue, and to the rapidly changing agricultural environment caused by climate change, and has promoted the establishment of a smart farm pilot complex. It is preparing mid- to long-term measures, including commissioned studies to revitalize smart farms through JBNU Industry-University Cooperation.

Under this agreement, the signatories will cooperate on industry–university collaborative R&D on the cultivation of specialty crops and methods for preventing pests and diseases, and on joint R&D of AI-based smart farm operation programs. This is expected to provide a valuable opportunity to explore a sustainable future for local agriculture.

In particular, Muju Smart Farm Co., Ltd. signed an MOU with JBNU's Department of Agricultural Biology last year and has been pursuing R&D projects on crop cultivation techniques and seed improvement for the smart farm complex. HYNE Co., Ltd. possesses considerable capabilities in energy self-sufficiency, a core technology for reducing carbon emissions, and such comprehensive cooperation is expected to generate significant synergy.

President Yang O-bong said, 'Through the Glocal University 30 Project, JBNU is mobilizing the capabilities of industry and cities centered on the university to lead a virtuous cycle of new technology development and job creation — the JUIC (University–Industry–City) Triangle — in pursuit of mutually beneficial regional development. Through this cooperation, we will make every effort to make the Muju County smart farm project a successful model and to foster the development of a high-tech research city in the region.'