KAIST to operate smart farms in Mongolia

The nation’s top research university has signed a partnership with the Mongolian government over expanding smart farms for the East Asian country.

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said Thursday the partnership will help the country to reduce its heavy reliance on foods imports, as the intelligent farming platforms will enable local residents to harvest vegetables during an extremely unfriendly climate condition in winter.

As the country’s temperature in winter season — which runs from October to April — drops to some minus 40 degrees Celcius, it has been almost impossible for residents to harvest any vegetables or fruits, KAIST said.

But the recent partnership will help the country dramatically enhance its self-sufficiency for vegetables, as the Internet of Things-converged farm management systems are expected to help users manage and keep track of harvest information in real-time.

“We hope this technological collaboration expands smart farms all across Mongolia,” KAIST professor Choi Moon-ki said in a statement. “KAIST believes our smart farm project to help drive up the country’s economic growth.”

For the project, KAIST will also join hands with the Seoul-based electronics research body, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute to co-develop various greenhouse management systems.