Professor Hak-Jin Kim from Seoul National University was honored with Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Award at the 27th Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Science and Technology Awards held on October 28, 2024, at the Yangjae aT Center in Seoul.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) established this award to reward researchers who contribute to the development and dissemination of technology in the agriculture, forestry, livestock, and food sectors. The award aims to honor those who have made significant contributions to increasing farmers' income and improving the living conditions of the general public. This year’s awardees were rewarded for their leading roles in advancing agri-food science and technology in areas such as cutting-edge biotechnology, localization of agricultural equipment, and the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Professor Hak-Jin Kim was selected as the winner for his contributions to strengthening the competitiveness of domestic agricultural sensor fusion technology through the development of an autonomous agricultural machine system capable of generating work paths on complex farmlands — the first of its kind in South Korea. His key achievements include the development of work path generation and tracking algorithms for autonomous agricultural machinery, as well as crop growth monitoring using drones and cameras. These innovations have contributed to reducing labor and increasing productivity in open-field production systems, while also supporting farmers' decision-making and demonstrating the resource-saving potential of smart farming.

Furthermore, Professor Kim has developed a system for real-time measurement of crop nutrient status in greenhouse nutrient solution cultivation systems using ion-selective electrodes (ISE). This technology allows for the variable-rate application of fertilizers, thereby reducing the consumption of agricultural materials and energy, while also enhancing the productivity of greenhouse crop cultivation.

In addition to his past achievements, Professor Kim is actively engaged in research on simulation-based agricultural work technologies, vision-based autonomous agricultural machinery operation and safety technologies, vision-based precision irrigation control for tomatoes, and indoor plant factory systems. As the Director of Global Smart Farm Educational Research Center, he is also leading efforts to train the next generation of global talent to drive innovation in smart farm research and industry. Professor Kim’s recent award is seen as a recognition of his contributions to enhancing the competitiveness of Korea’s agricultural technology and proposing new possibilities for the future of agriculture.