Establishing Future Research Directions Based on the Assessment of Agricultural Infrastructure Technology Levels and Technology Gap Survey Results

Seungheon Lee; Jongwon Do; Sunghee Lee

doi:10.5389/KSAE.2026.68.4.051

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2026 Vol.68, Issue 4 Preview Page Next Page

Establishing Future Research Directions Based on the Assessment of Agricultural Infrastructure Technology Levels and Technology Gap Survey Results 농공기술 수준진단 및 기술격차 조사 결과에 따른 후속 연구 방향 정립

2026. pp. 51-59

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Abstract

This study assesses agricultural infrastructure technology levels and gaps relative to leading countries through an expert Delphi survey and proposes future R&D directions. A two-round Delphi survey (Round 1: 153; Round 2: 137) evaluated 14 technologies across four fields: diversified farming, water use, water safety, and water environment. As of 2025, South Korea's overall technology level was estimated at 80.9% (U.S.=100%), with an average technology gap of 3.9 years. The overall level and gap were aggregated across the 14 technologies using the median of expert ratings (with consistent treatment of missing responses), and the 2030 values reflect the experts’ forward-looking estimates in Round 2. Korea shows strengths in conventional civil engineering domains (e.g., reclaimed farmland development) but lags in emerging data- and AI-driven domains (e.g., monitoring, analytics, and smart management). The findings indicate an urgent transition toward data- and AI-centric infrastructure, supported by expanded R&D investment, increased industry participation, and strengthened evaluation systems.

Keywords

Agricultural infrastructure technology

delphi survey

technology level

technology gap

r&d priorities

consensus measure

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
Publisher(Ko) :한국농공학회
Journal Title :Journal of Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
Journal Title(Ko) :한국농공학회논문집
Volume : 68
No :4
Pages :51-59
Received Date : 2026-02-27
Revised Date : 2026-04-20
Accepted Date : 2026-05-06
DOI :https://doi.org/10.5389/KSAE.2026.68.4.051

Journal of Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers ISSN:1738-3692(Print) 2093-7709(Online) 한국농공학회논문집

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