Key Takeaways
- The 4th Agri-Food Tech Startup Expo (AFPRO 2026) runs from October 15-17 at COEX in Seoul, featuring around 220 startups.
- Pet tech is the highlight, with the domestic pet market projected to grow from 850 billion won to 21 trillion won by 2032.
- This year’s theme focuses on “Physical AI,” showcasing technologies that automate agricultural tasks and tackle labor shortages.
Expo Overview
The 4th Agri-Food Tech Startup Expo (AFPRO 2026) is taking place at COEX in Seoul from October 15 to 17. Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and other partners, this event will feature approximately 220 startups across 360 booths, showcasing innovations in agri-tech, food technology, pet healthcare, and physical AI technologies.
The pet tech sector has gained significant traction, driven by a trend known as “pet humanization,” where pets are treated like family members. The domestic pet market is expected to soar from 850 billion won in August 2025 to 21 trillion won by 2032. Notable developments include “human-grade” pet food and advanced healthcare technologies. An example is an AI-driven diagnostic tool that analyzes pet health issues from smartphone images.
Several key startups focusing on pet tech will be present, including:
– Grass Medi, offering customized medicines,
– Peterpeter, with health management solutions based on biometrics,
– Pells, providing matching solutions for animal drug needs,
– Diddle Lab, which combines health routines with patented pet food technology,
– Active Pet, emphasizing natural materials in healthcare,
– Rebon Lab, producing premium, additive-free pet food.
Investment interest in pet tech is high, with nine firms set to conduct consultations at the “AC Special Gallery.”
Focus on Physical AI
This year’s expo theme, “Physical AI,” highlights the evolution of artificial intelligence used not just for data analysis but also for executing physical tasks. Innovations include robots capable of recognizing crops for harvesting and transporting loads, addressing the agricultural labor shortage. The Ministry of Agriculture aims to invest 57.2 billion won by 2030 into developing autonomous agricultural tools and technologies.
Showcased technologies include:
– MetaPharmUs’s “OmniFarm,” an AI for smart greenhouse operations,
– The Robotics’ “BotBox,” a robotic assistant for farmers,
– Growwise’s AI-driven environment control and growth optimization,
– GF’s crop disease detection systems,
– Rowain’s vertical farm robot facility.
The expo will culminate on October 17 with the “AFPRO 2026 AWARDS,” honoring 13 outstanding companies for their innovations. These awards will be presented by notable organizations in the agri-food technology sector.
Industry professionals and investors can attend the expo for free with prior registration, which will also include various side events aimed at fostering investment and innovation.
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