Korea, Qatar agree to set up smart farms in Middle East

Minister of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Chung Hwang-keun, left, poses with Qatar's Minister of Municipality Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie after signing a MOU for bilateral parnership in introducing smart farms to Qatar, in Doha, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs By Ko Dong-hwan Agriculture Minister Chung Hwang-keun has agreed with Qatar's Minister of Municipality Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie to launch Korea's cutting-edge smart farms in the Middle Eastern country to grow fresh produce in what is a desert country, according to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wednesday. Chung met Al Subaie in Doha, Tuesday (local time), and agreed to jointly pursue research and development to introduce smart farms to the country. Qatar has been seeking ways to domestically produce fresh vegetables, fruit and livestock feed despite the unhospitable climate. Smart farms, the agriculture ministry said, are the very solution to the country's concerns. Chung made a request to Al Subaie that Korean companies in the field of smart farms and related industries join Qatar's future initiatives in introducing the facilities locally. Chung, during the conversation, introduced Korea's "smart farm innovative valleys," R&D centers that teach about smart farm technologies and test the technologies' feasibility in local environments. Chung talked with Al Subaie about the Qatari with Al Subaie about the Qatari government jointly investing in the localized smart farm project with the Korean government. Al Subaie showed interest in how Korea's agricultural technologies have evolved and said that, seeing the project will benefit both countries, Qatar will cooperate with Korea in developing smart farm technologies, the agriculture ministry said. "Qatar is eager to introduce its own manufacturing infrastructure for the country's key fresh produce like tomatoes and cucumbers as part of the country's national goal for food security," Chung said. "We have signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation regarding the introduction of smart farms in Qatar. Steps to follow up on include a Seoul visit by Qatari businesspeople and experts involved in the industry and Korean smart farm researchers' visit to Qatar."