Indonesia-South Korea Inaugurates Smart Greenhouse for Tropical Agriculture

RRI.CO.ID, Cibinong - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) of Indonesia, together with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) of South Korea, inaugurated a smart greenhouse facility in Cibinong, West Java. This facility was built thru the Official Development Assistance (ODA) program of the South Korean government as a research and testing ground for smart agricultural technology tailored to Indonesia's tropical climate.

The Head of the BRIN Energy and Manufacturing Research Organization, Cuk Supriyadi Ali Nandar, explained that this project involves Indonesian researchers and engineers from the design stage to system adjustments with Korean experts. According to him, the main outcome of this collaboration is not just the physical building, but the technical skills that the Indonesian team now possesses to operate and repair the system independently.

In a statement received on Thursday, August 13, 2026, technologically, this greenhouse is equipped with automatic climate control, wireless sensors, Internet of Things-based monitoring, and precision irrigation and nutrition systems supported by artificial intelligence. As an initial stage of utilization, this facility is used to cultivate premium melons, a high-value economic commodity chosen to offset the significant initial investment cost of this technology.

Cuk revealed that in a tropical climate like Indonesia, electricity costs only contribute a small portion of the total production costs, while the biggest challenge lies in the large initial capital. In addition to melons, he mentioned strawberries, patchouli, specialty vegetables, as well as seeds and plant seedlings as other commodities that could potentially be developed using a similar approach.

The Director General of KIST Gangneung, Kim Joo Sun, referred to this facility as a living laboratory, whose success will be measured by the quality of research and practical solutions produced for future agriculture. He emphasized that this inauguration is the beginning, not the end, of research collaboration in the fields of water efficiency, environmental control, and AI application between Indonesian and Korean researchers.

In the future, this facility will serve as a research platform, a training center for researchers and students, as well as a technology demonstration site for investors and industry players. Head of The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Arif Satria, described this project as a tangible proof of the continuously developing science and technology partnership between Indonesia and South Korea.

He added that the development of this smart agricultural technology is in line with Indonesia's efforts to strengthen food sovereignty thru increased productivity and the efficient use of water, fertilizers, and energy. After the inauguration, the series of events continued with a field visit and discussions regarding the plan to utilize the facilities for research and knowledge exchange between the two countries.