Installation Allowed Without Exclusive Permit for 'Sujik Farm'... Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Confirms 50 Regulatory Innovation Tasks

The government has decided to allow the installation of all types of vertical farms within planned sites without requiring a conversion permit, by defining them as agricultural land use activities.

On the 14th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it held the '6th Agricultural Food Regulatory Innovation Strategy Meeting' at the Government Complex Sejong, chaired by Minister Song Mi-ryeong.

Song Miryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. (File photo)

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Since 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has formed a dedicated 'Agricultural Food Regulatory Innovation Task Force (TF)' to reform outdated regulations that lag behind the times, and has identified and improved 126 innovation tasks through field forums and expert policy consultations.

At this meeting, 50 regulatory innovation tasks with high ripple effects, importance, and urgency were finalized to support the 'Three Major Transitions in Agricultural Policy (Digital, Generational, Rural Space)'.

First, considering changes in agricultural conditions such as the expansion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) integration, all types of vertical farms within planned sites will be defined as agricultural land use activities and allowed to be installed without a conversion permit. To this end, the Enforcement Decree of the Farmland Act will be amended in January next year. Additionally, to enhance farming convenience, the installation of agricultural machinery and equipment sales facilities within the sites of already permitted facilities in agricultural promotion zones will be allowed. The scope of business for agricultural corporations will be expanded from agriculture to upstream and downstream industries to promote rural economic revitalization.

To strengthen support for pet-related businesses, pet owners will be guaranteed the right to know by allowing them to view or receive copies of medical records upon request, thereby enhancing transparency in animal medical care. Furthermore, through cooperation with private companies, pet registration change reports and information inquiry services, which were previously only available through local government visits or Government24, will be provided via user-friendly private apps.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will diversify the transaction methods of agricultural products in online wholesale markets to include group purchases and simple transactions to revitalize the livelihood economy. Also, the support amount for joint purchases of ingredients by food service businesses will be increased from 30 million KRW to 50 million KRW per location.

To attract young farmers, from the end of this year, the rental of agricultural machinery, previously only available to farmers, will be allowed for prospective young farmers, and the areas where facilities can be installed or leased using youth successor farmer funds will be expanded. Additionally, qualification requirements for personnel at livestock improvement and livestock inspection institutions will be relaxed to promote employment of young workers and others in the agricultural food sector.

Other measures include easing investigations of eco-friendly certification production processes and improving the method of origin labeling on tablet PCs in restaurants.

Minister Song said, "Bold reform of outdated regulations will accelerate the 'Three Major Transitions in Agricultural Policy (Digital, Generational, Rural Space)' and structural innovation in agriculture and rural areas," adding, "We plan to strengthen collaboration between the private sector and ministries, continuously discover innovation tasks, and promptly improve them to stabilize livelihoods and achieve regulatory innovation that the public can feel."

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