From a crop’s perspective, prolonged drought is an extreme external stressor. The photo shows water being sprayed over a dried carrot field in Jeju Island showing signs of drought. (Photo courtesy of Yonhap)
Project aims to detect stress at genetic level before visible symptoms emerge
SUWON, August 5 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Gyeonggi Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services has launched an ambitious initiative to develop an artificial intelligence-based system capable of predicting crop stress caused by extreme weather and pest outbreaks before symptoms are visible.
Announced Monday, the project was selected for the Ministry of Science and ICT’s 2025 “Digital Solutions for Societal Challenges” program. The system, titled “AI-Based Early Detection of Adverse Environmental Stress Using Crop Biometrics,” uses RNA (ribonucleic acid) analysis to quantify how plants respond to environmental stressors such as heat waves, drought, and insect infestations.
Unlike conventional monitoring tools that rely on visual cues or sensors, the new system identifies stress responses at the genetic level, significantly improving both sensitivity and accuracy. This allows farmers to take preventive action before damage becomes visible, potentially mitigating crop loss and reducing the need for reactive treatments.
South Korea’s Gyeonggi Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services has launched an ambitious initiative to develop an artificial intelligence. (image courtesy of Gyeonggi Province)
Gyeonggi’s agriculture institute is working in partnership with Kyungpook National University, four other academic institutions, and five tech firms including Namu ICT. Backed by 1.2 billion won ($900,000) in government funding, the project is set for completion by the end of this year.
The research team is currently conducting field trials on rice and soybeans—representing monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous crops, respectively—collecting RNA samples at least three times a week throughout the growth cycle to analyze gene expression patterns tied to stress resistance.
Once developed, the AI prediction system will be made available through platforms such as Gyeonggi Province’s Cyber Plant Hospital, the Rural Development Administration, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s public data portal.
From the perspective of crops, all adverse conditions—such as prolonged heatwaves, drought, and pest infestations—act as stressors. The photo shows drone-based pest control being conducted in flood-damaged areas of Gapyeong County following recent torrential rains. (Photo courtesy of Gapyeong County)
“This early warning system represents a new generation of intelligent agricultural platforms that merge digital and bioinformatics technologies,” said Sung Je-hoon, president of the Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services. “We expect this to offer practical support for farmers and accelerate the digital transformation of Gyeonggi’s agricultural sector.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
This initiative is impressive