South Korea Launches Digital Breeding Platform to Boost Global Seed Competitiveness

According to AgTechNavigator, South Korea has officially launched a new Digital Breeding Information System aimed at enhancing its position in the global seed industry.

🌱 A Strategic Digital Shift

The platform was developed under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) as part of its broader strategy to shift from traditional breeding techniques to digitally enhanced methods.

Leveraging big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and information and communication technologies (ICT), the system is designed to improve both the efficiency and accuracy of crop breeding processes.

“The Digital Breeding Information Utilization System is a core infrastructure that will strengthen South Korea’s future seed industry competitiveness,” said An Ho-geun, Director of the Korea Agency of Agricultural Technology Promotion (KoAT).

“It will significantly contribute to advancing breeding technologies among domestic seed companies and improving their responsiveness to international markets.”

🧬 Features and Capabilities

• Contains genomic data for 12 major crops, including rice and peppers
• Includes data on approximately 4,000 molecular markers
• Integrated with KoAT’s molecular marker analysis service, enabling:
• Online submission of analysis requests
• Real-time access to results
• Full digital management—eliminating the need for manual processing

The system runs on KT Cloud, ensuring secure storage and data processing while maintaining easy access for users.

🧪 Training & Adoption

KoAT will offer training programs in June and October for seed companies and research institutions to encourage adoption.

🌍 Building a Competitive Seed Market

In 2023, MAFRA unveiled plans to grow South Korea’s domestic seed industry from ₩740 billion (2020) to ₩1.2 trillion by 2027. Additionally, seed export volumes are expected to double—from $60 million to $120 million.

Despite these ambitions, South Korea accounted for only 1.4% of the global seed market in 2020 (valued at $44.9 billion).

“Global multinationals are developing new varieties using biotechnology and AI. To maintain seed sovereignty and keep up with global trends, it is essential to foster a domestic seed industry,” the agency stated.

🚀 Digital Breeding: A Core Strategy

Digital breeding is at the heart of Korea’s strategy for global seed competitiveness:

• Could cut breeding periods down to 3–5 years
• May increase commercial success rates from 10% to 50%
• Supports the development of the “K-Seed Valley”, modeled after the Dutch Seed Valley

“Digital breeding is no longer optional—it's central to ensuring self-reliance and long-term growth in a fast-evolving global landscape,” the report concluded.

(Photo: Freepik)