The Department of Agricultural Environment is a national research organization supporting rural area to maintain sound agricultural environment through developing rural resources and new agricultural technologies.

(1) The works of Department of Agricultural Environment focus on ;

- Manage the soil and nutrient levels of agricultural lands and build up the system to make effective use of information on agriculture and the environment
- Utilize climate resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the agricultural ecosystem soundness
- Set up a technology system for low-input, closed-loop, organic agricultural production
- Generate income from agricultural environment resources and establish a foundation of welfare for rural communities

It consists of Soil and Fertilizer Division, and Climate Change Assessment Division and Organic Agriculture Division and Rural Environment & Resources Division.

(2) Soil and Fertilizer Division

We contribute to the rational utilization of agricultural lands and the improvement of rural household income by doing research on farmland soil resources, establishing standards for physiochemical properties, developing optimum management techniques, managing crop nutrition, and advancing fertilizer resources application technologies

1. Updating of soil resource information and expansion of soil information services

This laboratory updates soil information in line with changes in land use, conducts soil surveys on Saemangeum Agricultural and Ecological Lands, makes digital soil maps reflecting soil properties, collects big data for soil security assessment and performs studies on rapid soil survey techniques by using proximal soil sensing.

• Standard layer of soil pH (0 - 5cn)
• Soil Judging Contest
• Agreement with farmland banking enterprise

2. Development of water movement and management techniques and dissemination of current and predictive drought information

This laboratory sets standards on soil physics for agricultural land and develops land improvement technology, develops water management techniques for outdoor and greenhouse cultivation, provides the current and predictive information on drought, assesses soil loss and develops soil conservation practices.

• Water movement research using undisturbed weighing lysimeter
• Guideline for water management techniques on crop land
• Services for drought status and prediction on uplands

3. Evaluation of changes in agricultural environment resources, performing of soil tests, and development of on-site diagnosis and prescription techniques

This laboratory periodically monitors and evaluates the chemical properties of national agricultural lands, develops technologies to protect agricultural lands from heavy metals, sets soil chemistry standards, supports test-based policies for preserving agricultural environment and performs soil diagnosis and prescribes productivity techniques for farming sites.

• Environment monitoring workshop
• On-site diagnosis system for soil chemical management
• On-site diagnosis contest

4. Improvement of fertilizer application prescription services and support of agricultural environment preservation programs

This laboratory develops integrated nutrition management and assists in providing financial support to farmers by setting the fertilizer recommendation, studying fertigation prescription, modeling the nutrient transport in agricultural lands, calculating the nutrient balance of agricultural lands to provide improvement measures, and performing nutritional diagnosis by crop growth stages.

• Publication of fertilization recommendation
• Development of fertigation(irrigation+nutrients) recommendation
• Farmhouse practice manual for conservation of agriculture and rural environments

5. Development of techniques for safe use of organic matter in agricultural land and assessment of soil carbon changes

This laboratory develops technologies to utilize organic resources in agriculture and safe use, sets the recommended amount of organic fertilizer to be applied, evaluates land environmental changes caused by the long-term use of fertilizer and studies and predicts soil carbon changes to maintain the optimal amount of organic matter in agricultural lands.

• Management of long-term field experiment ('54 -)
• IoT compost maturity determination system
• Assessment of soil carbon stock

(3) Climate Change Assessment Division

This division refines agrometeorological data and disaster-related information; anticipates the effect of climate change on agricultural ecosystem and assesses vulnerability and advances the main crops’ yield forecasting information. In addition, it calculates greenhouse gas emissions and fine dust and responds proactively to the new climate regime issues by striving to develop greenhouse gas reduction technologies.

1. Refinement of the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector and development of reduction technologies and putting them to practical use

This laboratory analyzes greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions by establishing National GHG Inventory in agricultural sector and responds to international cooperation(UNFCCC) to improve climate change policies. It contributes to the promotion of ‘Net-Zero’ through the development and application of GHG reduction technologies, and carbon life cycle assessment.

• Development of Korea-specific emission factors
• Real-time greenhouse gas measuring device
• Rice field water management an greenhouse gas reduction

2. Evaluation of fine particulate matter emission in the agricultural sector and assessment of atmospheric environmental impact

This laboratory monitors and make inventory of the emission characteristics of fine particulate matter in the agricultural sector, and is upgrading the calculation of fine particulate matter emissions. Also, it conducts the management of fine particulate matter and ammonia emission information and the assessment of the impact of the atmospheric environment on agricultural areas.

• Agricultural land ammonia emission calculation system
• Assessment of atmospheric environmental impact
• Calculation of fine particulate matter emission

3. Research on climate change at agroecosystem and assessment of climate change impact and vulnerability

This laboratory develops climate indexes for the agricultural water environment, biodiversity and biotic seasons, and assesses the effect of climate change and vulnerabilities. It also develops technologies that can minimize the impact of climate change to maintain the function of agricultural ecosystem services.

• Real-time monitoring system
• Selection of biological indicator of climate change
• Development of climate impact risk management technologies

4. Production and utilization of agrometeorological and agro-climatic forecast information and advancement of early warning technology for agrometeorological disasters

This laboratory expands and advances the early warning service for meteorological disaster, evaluates agricultural climate resources, and performs climate prediction modeling. Moreover, it develops indexes for abnormal weather and dangers and estimates and assesses local micro-meteorological patterns and risks.

• Early warning service for agrometeorological disasters
• Mid-and long-term agrometeorological and agro-climatic forecasts
• Agricultural land flux measurement system

5. Measurement of agricultural production environment based on remote-sensing and advancement of crop yield forecast technology

This laboratory evaluates the yields of main domestic and foreign crops based on remote sensing methods, and monitors agricultural production environments. It also observes and analyzes agricultural disasters by utilizing remote sensing technologies and establishes a base to apply satellite images on the agricultural sector.

• Unmanned observation information service platform
• Remote-sensing-based crop yield forecast
• Application of agricultural satellite

(4) Organic Agriculture Division

We develop field-focused, low-input resource cycling technologies to resolve technical difficulties in organic farming and put them to practical use, thereby contributing to the development of eco-friendly organic farming.

1. Publication and distribution of organic farming manuals and books on agricultural technologies: (‘09) 6 books → (‘20) 50 books

his laboratory develops organic farming-based technologies such as organic seeds, biological resource utilization technology, and organic agricultural materials to minimize the damage caused by pests and diseases when growing organic crops. We are conducting research on the development and dissemination of eco-friendly pest and diseases management technology.

2. Study on nutrient management efficiency for organic crop land and agro-ecology

This laboratory develops soil and nutrient management technologies using organic resource to secure soil health. We are conducting researches on evaluating contribution of organic farming to carbon neutral and completing soil quality evaluation system.

• Effective soil and nutrient management by organic materials recommendation system on organic rice
• Utilization of local organic resources DIY nutrient management materials
• Assessment of biodiversity of organic farming

3. Practical use of the comprehensive organic crop pest management

This laboratory examines and assesses the effects of the organic farming on agriculture and the rural environment and ecology. Based on findings, it explores how to provide comprehensive technological, social, policy support to make agricultural and the rural environment and ecosystem healthier.

• Practical use of Chlorella as a functional biomaterial
• Vitality promotion of parasitic wasp by flowering plants for the suppression of aphid pest
• Organic seed disinfection technology

4. Strengthening of domestic and international cooperation on organic farming research

This laboratory is conducting research about the value promotion based on the evaluation of public value using useful biological resources and establishment of organic agriculture digital ecosystem services induce connections between producers and consumers, in order to enhance and disseminate the multifunctional value of organic agriculture.

• Organic Farming Technology Committee
• Organic Farming Innovation Award (OFIA)
• Education for organic farming experts (IFOAM)

(5) Rural Environment and Resources Division

Rural Environment and Resources Division aims to contribute to the creation of a rural area where people want to go and live by improving the quality of rural residents’ life and enhancing the utilization value of agricultural and rural resources.

1. Supporting stable settlement of young or female farmers and improving welfare of rural residents such as elderly farmers

The lab is conducting research on the welfare and capacity building for future human resources in agriculture such as female or young farmers, supporting the customized policy establishment through agriculture career system development, and response to aging population for welfare of rural residents. In addition, we are providing social services for incoming rural population returning farmers and marriage immigrants in order for them to stably residents.

• Satisfaction Chart of husbands and wives of farming households in rural Areas
• Survey on Participation in Regional Agricultural Policy by Female Farmers
• Women's Leadership Improvement Workshop for Married Immigrants

2. utilization of rural resources and study on rural spatial planning to make livable rural communities

In response to the depopulation of rural areas and expansion of living services, we are conducting research on the development of rural space regeneration technology to provide basic services and create a pleasant residential environment, preservation and management of local resources such as agricultural heritage and landscape, and field-oriented local community regeneration research.

• A joint seminar of the Rural Architecture Association using empty houses in rural areas
• Rural Spatial Analysis Guidelines
• Research and analysis of local resources using unmanned aerial vehicles

3. Revitalization of rural healing tourism and improvement of rural tourism quality

We are conducting the research to discover value of agricultural and rural areas and develop tourism services as a place for rest and recreation. We contribute to expanding rural tourism market and creating competitive advantage through rural environment and cultural resource excavation of regional network, development of rural healing and ecotourism content as well as rural tourism business strategy, and quality enhancement.

• Development of rural healing tourism program
• Residents brainstorming to discover healing resources
• National Assembly debate for revitalization of healing tourism

4. The digitalization of rural resources to improve public value in rural areas

This lab is researching on digitization and management system for various rural resources to expand and enhance public benefit functions in agriculture and rural areas.
In addition, we are conducting a study on social safety net connection and public subsidy based on public benefit functions in agriculture and rural areas through a study on welfare conditions such as farmers and fishermen