Lotte Mart and supermarkets announced on the 22nd that they will actively expand 'smart farm' agricultural products, which have the strengths of stable supply and uniform quality, in response to the instability of agricultural product quality and supply caused by abnormal weather. This year, they plan to showcase a total of about 50 items of smart farm agricultural products and to increase operational volumes by more than double compared to last year.
Smart farm is an agricultural method that incorporates information and communication technology (ICT) to manage the growth environment of crops in optimal conditions. It maximizes production efficiency by optimizing various variables necessary for the growth of agricultural products, including temperature, humidity, light intensity, and carbon dioxide.
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The number of smart farm agricultural products operated by Lotte Mart and supermarkets last year was about 30 items, which is an increase of over 40% compared to 2023. The number of customers seeking smart farm agricultural products is also steadily increasing. Sales of smart farm agricultural products at Lotte Mart have shown double-digit growth rates each year since 2021, recording approximately 15% last year.
The fruit that Lotte Mart and supermarkets have most aggressively expanded in smart farm products is 'strawberries', increasing the volume by more than double compared to last season. Strawberries are sensitive produce, and because their flesh weakens as the weather gets warmer, this increase addresses that concern.
According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, the size of the domestic smart farm market is projected to grow at an average annual rate of about 16%, from $240 million in 2021 to $490 million this year.
Jung Hye-yeon, head of the fresh food division at Lotte Mart and supermarkets, noted, "One of the products that aligns with our value of providing 'fresh foods without failure to customers' is smart farm agricultural products," and added, "We plan to actively introduce agricultural products that apply various future farming methods, beyond smart farms, to spread the recognition that 'freshness is Lotte.'"
Source: Chosun Biz