(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Yoon-gu = The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 4th that it will support 234.8 billion won for major research and development (R&D) projects this year, a 16.9% increase from last year, and will provide 45.6 billion won in new tasks for 12 projects. This R&D investment includes: ▲ innovation of core technologies in life resources such as green bio materials and pet health care industrialization (33.5 billion won) ▲ securing preemptive technologies for intelligent smart agriculture using agricultural robots and drones (51 billion won) ▲ strengthening global competitiveness of K-Food through securing core materials for future food (38.9 billion won) ▲ developing technologies to respond to climate crisis and new and variant diseases and disasters (73.2 billion won) ▲ securing technological capabilities for future growth bases such as promoting technology commercialization and human resource development (38.2 billion won). The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to integrate the research and development business implementation plan for this year, conduct selection and evaluation, and support research from April. Lee Si-hye, Director of Agricultural Industry Innovation Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "We plan to strategically invest in core areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) revolution (AX), advanced bio cultivation, climate response and carbon-neutral technology, and advanced food technology for the future growth industrialization of agriculture" and "We will quickly commercialize the secured advanced technologies into various products and services in the agricultural field."