Pukyong National University

A 'smart firming cluster test bed' built in PKNU campus

- A groundbreaking ceremony at the institute of fisheries sciences in Gijang-gun, Busan on the 19th ... 500 tons of Atlantic salmon will be farmed annually

△ President Jang Young-Soo (third from the right) and other attendees at the groundbreaking ceremony are lighting celebration popper. ⓒPhoto Lee Sung-Jae (PR team)

A 'smart farming cluster test bed' capable of farming 500 tons of Atlantic salmon annually will be built on the site of Pukyong National University institute of fisheries sciences in Gijang-gun, Busan.

On the afternoon of July 19, at Pukyong National University institute of fisheries sciences, the 'groundbreaking ceremony for smart firming cluster test bed' was held in the presence of President Jang Young-Soo from Pukyong National University, administration mayor Lee Byung-Jin from the Busan metropolitan city, chairman Ahn Seong-Min from the Busan city council, vice minister Song Sang-Geun from the Ministry of maritime affairs and fisheries, national assemblyman Ahn Byung-Gil, and chief executive officer Huh Yun-Hong from GS E&C.

The project of the 'smart farming cluster' is a project promoted to dramatically increase productivity by transforming the aquaculture industry, which relied on individual experience and knowledge, into a digital industry by combining technologies such as data, network, and artificial intelligence.

The Busan smart farming cluster is a project that invests 40 billion won to create a smart aquaculture test bed and site foundation on the area of 67,320㎡. If the cluster is completed, it is analyzed that effect on production inducement of 71.2 billion won and the employment effectiveness of 425 people will occur.

On this test bed, an eco-friendly aquaculture farm with advanced technologies such as sensors, communication devices and data storage devices, and smart aquaculture platform will be created through water recycling culture that reuses more than 99% of culturing seawater. Annually 500 tons of Atlantic salmon will be raised here through smart technology. The R&D center and research institutes that promote high-density firming, salmon exclusive fodder development, and professional manpower training projects are planning to move in so that they can focus on technology development.

The test bed, which began construction on today, is scheduled to be completed next year, and a synergistic effect of R&D with Pukyong National University institute of fisheries sciences, a research base for fisheries science, is also expected. Pukyong National University and GS E&C signed a win-win cooperation agreement for economic innovation in the maritime and fishery sector last year, including the successful establishment and operation of the Busan smart aquaculture cluster, research and development, educational cooperation, and shared growth of the maritime and fishery-related industries.

If this project is successfully pushed, it is expected that domestic salmon firmed in Korea will be on our table. Most of the salmon consumed in Korea depends on imports, and imports are on the rise from about 40,000 tons in 2020 to about 60,000 tons in 2021.

President Jang Young-Soo of Pukyong National University said, "Through the start of the test bed construction, I expect that it will be able to lay the foundation for farming world-renowned salmon masterpiece, and to lead the development of professional manpower and technology in the field of smart aquaculture."

In 2019, the city of Busan held a public contest for the Ministry of maritime affairs and fisheries' smart farming cluster project and was finally selected, and in the same year, Busan metropolitan city, Pukyong National University, and the Busan smart farming cluster business group signed an enforcement agreement, received development licenses, and are currently in the final stage of infrastructure construction such as water intake works, drainage management, and electrical installation. <Pukyong Today>

△ President Jang Young-Soo gives a greeting.

△ A view of the groundbreaking ceremony venue.