Agriculture Energy Overhaul Task Force Launched to Ease Fuel Price Burden

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) launched the 'Agriculture and Rural Energy Transition Task Force (TF)' on May 8th and held its inaugural meeting. This TF aims to respond to the growing burden on farm households due to increased agricultural energy consumption, driven by recent global oil price volatility and the expansion of smart farms, by transforming the energy structure in the agricultural sector and alleviating concerns over fuel costs. The TF plans to develop measures for rural energy self-sufficiency, agricultural energy transition, and contributions to national energy policy through the utilization of agricultural and rural resources by July.

Key initiatives include promoting the spread of agrivoltaic solar power, establishing energy-independent villages, and supporting the adoption of self-owned solar power systems for farms to achieve rural energy self-sufficiency. Renewable energy production models will also be established using agricultural infrastructure like reclaimed land and reservoirs, as well as biomass sources such as livestock manure and agricultural by-products. Furthermore, the efficiency of energy use across the entire agricultural production process will be enhanced by transitioning old farm machinery to electric or hydrogen-based systems and expanding the deployment of renewable energy facilities in greenhouses and livestock farms.

The TF is composed of Deputy Minister Kim Jong-goo of MAFRA and Director-General Kim Jung-wook of the Agri-Innovation Policy Bureau as head and deputy head, respectively. It also includes three divisions led by director-level officials and a private advisory group. Deputy Minister Kim stated, 'Energy security is food security,' and announced plans to establish basic principles and performance indicators for the agriculture and rural energy transition in line with national renewable energy policies, as well as to refine related systems. Based on the discussions, financial projects and institutional improvements will be pursued concurrently.