Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and SK Incheon Petrochem Join Hands to Establish Environmentally Friendly Livestock Farming Model

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] On the 14th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it signed a 'Business Agreement for Establishing an Environmentally Friendly Livestock Industry Model' with the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and SK Incheon Petrochem.

Through this agreement, the three parties will cooperate to produce renewable energy using livestock manure and establish an intelligent agriculture and livestock system to reduce odors and greenhouse gas emissions in the livestock industry.

The livestock industry has grown sustainably and now holds a significant share in the rural economy; however, it faces negative public perception due to social costs and increased complaints caused by environmental deterioration such as livestock manure and odors.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to promote appropriate environmental management based on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the Internet of Things (IoT), as well as expand renewable energy using livestock manure by integrating advanced convergence technologies from private companies. Specifically, the ministry will provide institutional and financial support for smart livestock transformation and renewable energy production promotion, the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation will conduct demonstration pilot projects centered on local agricultural and livestock cooperatives, SK Incheon Petrochem will contribute smart control and energy efficiency process technologies, and the Rural Development Administration will support technology development for applying corporate technologies to the livestock industry field.

Currently, among 88 livestock manure joint resource facilities nationwide, only eight facilities generate electricity by producing methane gas. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs stated, "By integrating SK Incheon Petrochem's energy operation technology, the expansion of livestock manure energy facilities will be actively promoted through increased renewable energy production and use, greenhouse gas reduction, and improved profitability from electricity sales."

Livestock manure energy facilities are estimated to produce 5,768 MWh of electricity annually (equivalent to the electricity consumption of about 1,900 households) and reduce approximately 22,000 tons of greenhouse gases.

Minister Jeong Hwang-geun of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, "By applying the creative ideas and innovative technologies of private companies that have led Korea's industrialization to agriculture and livestock, this will serve as a starting point to promote the future industrialization of agriculture in a way different from before." He added, "Until now, solutions were sought within the agricultural framework, which had technical limitations, but we will expand the transition to renewable energy and smart agriculture and livestock systems by linking technologies developed by private companies such as ICT with agriculture and livestock issues."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.