Ginseng is well known for fastidious cultivation, because
it is greatly influenced by temperature and other factors.
For one-year-old
ginseng seedlings, it can be considered as a ‘superior ginseng seedling’ when
its weight exceeds 0.8g at least, and can be growing as so called
‘Gold-bounded' ginseng. However, controlling the growth is becoming harder due
to global warming and abnormally high temperatures. Agricultural chemicals
being used in growing ginseng seedlings may also sacrifice the quality.
Ginseng is a very sensitive crop but the story will
be changed as we enter the era of fourth industrial revolution technology.
Technology for growing ‘superior ginseng seedling’ and ‘sprout ginseng’
strongly as soon as possible without any pesticide has been developed by one of
Korea's Smart Farm companies. It covers all technologies including big data IoT
(Internet of Things).
This involves ‘ICT (information communication) based
full control sealed ginseng process growing seedling system' developed by
DK-Ecofarm (CEO Uigi Hong). It is ‘new seedling technology differentiated from the
current way of hydroponic ginseng cultivation, and outstanding ‘very first’ new
technology.
Firstly, it is the first method that does not require
purchasing and storing of ginseng seedlings, whereas existing hydroponic
ginseng culture requires one to buy and plant ginseng seedlings. Usually
ginseng seedlings are trading in spring and autumn, and stored at low
temperature for a long time for farming. However, this new technology allows
cultivation from the seeds state. It reduces inconvenience of distributing and
storing ginseng seedlings. It can prevent ginseng seedlings from being spoiled
by mold and enables one to start cultivation in any of 365 days a year.
Secondly, the entire cultivation process is
environmentally friendly. This has something in common with the advantage of
standing cultivation from seeds. According to the explanation of the company,
ginseng seedling used in existing method uses pesticides, may cause lesions in
ginseng seedlings and heavy metal contamination problems, and the varieties
management is also difficult. This technology starts with pesticide-free
process from the seeds. DK-Ecofarm is developing technologies for 'organic
nutrient solution’ and ‘microorganism derived mold reducing agent' used in
cultivation and dormancy breaking processes, respectively.
This is possible because of support by an ICT-based
full control sealed culture system. Environmental conditions required for
ginseng growth − such
as temperature & humidity; luminous intensity; and carbon dioxide − can be collected and optimized remotely with IoT.
Ginseng process seedling control rules, technology transferred by the Rural
Development Administration, are also embedded in this system. DK-Ecofarm
established integrated environment control techniques utilizing big data based
cultivation recipe DB (database).
This technique already passed through repeated
experimental stages and is ready for commercialization. It is planned to supply
Smart Farm facilities by remodeling secondhand containers.
Uigi Hong, CEO of DK-Ecofarm, said that “Because
biology and IT patents are merged, one-year-old superior ginseng seedlings can
be raised quickly within 100 days,“ adding that “It is verified that the
average weight of the root of produced ginseng seedling is 0.8g. Moreover, the
productivity per cultivated area is so high that stable supply will be
possible." He continued to add, “Highlighting the feature of clean high
quality, we will give consumers trust and contribute to boosting farmers'
income."
"Jackpot with ICT": Ecofarm publishes
‘New Growing Seedling technique for Ginseng'
Money Today, June 21, 2019
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