“Now, robots that understand speech are essential in rural areas.”

On the 29th, at the Daedong Robotics exhibition booth set up at the '2025 A FARM SHOW', visitors gathered to see a transport robot resembling a car. This is because it is a remarkable robot that can roam orchards, carry harvested apples, and return to the storage.

Kim Soo-jin, head of the robot marketing team at Daedong Robotics, stated, “Next year, we plan to release the country's first voice-recognition autonomous robot,” adding, “Given the characteristics of rural areas with a large elderly population, robots that understand speech well are necessary. They can receive work instructions and even check the weather.”

The transport robot, which can carry up to 300kg and be deployed as a 'worker' in agricultural fields, is equipped with an AI autonomous driving system. Even if a manual driving model is selected, it can be easily maneuvered using a remote control or wire.

At the A FARM SHOW, various new technologies from AgTech (advanced agriculture) companies caught the eyes of visitors. Robotics solution company The Robotics showcased a transport robot called 'BotBox' that follows workers. Baek Yoo-hyun (61), who raises butterflies in Sacheon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, said after seeing BotBox, “I have difficulty moving pots due to back issues, but using the machine seems convenient,” adding, “The ease of operation, similar to using a TV or air conditioner, also seems useful.”

Technology using AI to quickly diagnose pests was also introduced. The Rural Development Administration unveiled a device that can diagnose 'Varroa destructor', the main culprit of mass bee deaths, in 30 seconds using AI. Varroa destructor is a pest that parasitizes bees inside hives, spreading diseases and eventually causing death. With AI, even novice beekeepers can easily engage in pest control. The administration also introduced agricultural machinery like automatic transplanters for peppers and cabbages that plant seedlings in fields automatically.

Farm Hannong, which developed the application 'Farms All' that uses AI to control crop cultivation environments and provide customized consulting, also received numerous questions from visitors. Farms All is a service that automatically collects environmental data such as temperature and humidity using monitoring equipment and controls the environment. It can diagnose pests with just a photo. Seong Won, a student at Yeonam University (22), said, “There is a perception that agriculture is traditional and unchanging, but seeing AI being utilized makes me think it's a positive change.”

AI startup Intflow introduced the AI livestock healthcare solution 'EdgeFarm'. It helps manage livestock health by remotely monitoring pigs' activity levels and feed intake. It can also measure the number of pigs and their average weight. Moon Sung-min, a senior manager at Intflow, stated, “Customers cite reduced work time as the biggest advantage,” adding, “The usage is simple, so even foreign workers can use it without difficulty.”

Agricultural corporation Green also showcased a smart farm startup model for young farmers. In the vertical tower-type smart farm exceeding 2.5 meters, basil was densely growing. Many visitors showed interest by smelling the basil. Kwon Ki-pyo, a young successor farmer who founded Green in 2016, emphasized, “Young farmers often face difficulties from the start of farming,” adding, “Our goal is to help young farmers by developing technology for dense cultivation in small spaces.”

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