Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar met with Korean-based company Green Plus to discuss its proposed marketing and promotion of smart farming technologies in the Philippines, May 11.

Anchoring on the principle of smart farms as “the future of mankind,” the company takes pride in its smart greenhouse with the capacity to create the optimal environment for agricultural, livestock, and fishery production.

Some of Green Plus’ key technologies include an automatic up-down cultivating device system, air conditioning and heating system, building-type fish farming system, environment control system, and artificial light complete control.

Expressing support to the initiative, Secretary Dar advised Green Plus to create and set up a business model in the Philippines to allow members of the agriculture sector to view and experience its smart greenhouse farming technology.

“The general attitude of Filipinos is if you don’t see it, you don’t believe it,” he explained.

He also recommended partnering with existing Philippines-based agriculture companies as another option for Green Plus’ business model.

“I am a believer of smart technologies like greenhouse farming. The big business people will be interested as this will be the future of agriculture,” the Secretary expressed.

Green Plus is the latest Korean farming institution to express interest in investing in the Philippine agricultural sector.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is also actively collaborating with the Korean government, with the latter investing in agriculture-related projects in five regions in the Philippines. ### (Krystelle Ymari A. Vergara, DA-AFID)