An innovative and creative pathfinder in agricultural technology
About
EPINET was founded as a venture business of the plant disease epidemiology lab of Seoul National University in 2002, which was the same year as the FIFA World Cup hosted by Korea. We first developed PearScab® in the same year. PearScab® provides not only meteorological information for specific areas but also forecasting information on the occurrence of pear scab, a disease which can lead to devastating damage in pear orchard. The development of the software marked a turning point which provided an innovative improvement to agricultural extension services regarding the pear producing areas.
Beginning with PearScab®, we have constructed a user-friendly web-based user interface (web map interface). A microclimate model (Geospatial climate prediction scheme for a complex watershed) was adopted for the purpose of producing real time practical and effective agrometeorological data.
We are able to more accurately predict the occurrence of diseases and insect pests by using both real time weather data and weather forecast data. We also reinforced the SMS alert service and Web-GIS service so that we can provide users with faster and more effective forecasting information regarding the occurrence of diseases and insect pests.
We are striving to develop solutions that will decrease the number of plant diseases and insect pests that result from meteorological changes so that our clients can adapt actively to transitions in the agricultural environment.
EPINET
2014~
Mar., 2020.Field Support Education Division (Seoul National University at Pyeongchang)
Aug., 2019.Participated in World Bank Roadshow
Apr., 2019.Relocation of office building
May., 2018.Awarded by the Rural Development Administration
(Agenda Assignment Excellence Award)
Nov., 2017.INNOBIZ Certification
Nov., 2017.ISO 9001 Quality Management Certification
Oct., 2017.15th Anniversary of Foundation
Jun., 2016.Venture Business Company Certification
DEC., 2015.RDA Administrator Award
Apr., 2014.Registering as Weather Company (KMA)
Jan., 2014.Reorganizing the Company
2006 ~ 2013
Feb., 2013.Reporting R&D Service Industry
Oct., 2012.Establishing Research Institute
Apr., 2012.Relocation of Head Office (Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea)
Mar., 2011.Launching AgCast® Products
Nov., 2009.Technological Progress Award (Korea Society Agricultural & Forest Meteorology)
Dec., 2008.Plant Disease & Pest Management system on fruit trees – Consignment Contract
Sep., 2008.MEST Administrator Award – Plant disease & Pest Forecasting System
Oct., 2007.IAPPS (Glasgow in Scotland) presentation
Sep., 2006.Poster exhibition at Agriculture and Forestry Science Technology Exposition
2002 ~ 2005
Mar., 2005.Registration of Venture Company in Korea
Apr., 2004.Appreciation Award Plaque (Seoul National University)
May., 2003.Software Business Declaration
Jan., 2003.Developed for the first time in Korea
Oct., 2002.Business Registration (Registration of EPINET Co., Ltd.)
Sep., 2002.Incorporation
Organization of EPINET
EPINET is comprised of experts with more than 10 years of specialized field experience in agrobiology and computer programming. Our company collects numerical data in agricultural environment and identify plant responses to climate change. We implement biometeorological information provider systems (IPS) based on empirical analysis using numerical data. IPS provide users with site-specific agricultural information via Web and mobile applications.
EPINET as a unique venture in operating agroclimate systems, has an immense processing capacity that collects and process numerical weather data to establish agricultural environment information service.
I still have a lot of troubles growing red peppers though I have been doing it for years. How much will I be able to harvest this year? Will it rain a lot during the summer? Will any disease or insect pest strike my field? A series of worries keep me uneasy. But my agony goes away when I imagine the joy of harvesting the red peppers which are like my children. I whispered to them, “Please grow well this year, my children,” after planting them in the field. After that, it started to rain, which quenched their thirst. I thanked the spring rain for listening to my prayer.
An SMS was just delivered to my mobile phone before I went to the field in the morning. It read, “Beware of strong wind in Gonam-myeon area in the afternoon.” This short message was from the agricultural extension service center. It was a great reminder to me, although I had already heard that from the TV weather forecast last night. I checked and fastened the supporting sticks of each red pepper plant. I came back to the field the next day to find that everyone was safely in their seats.
It is still spring, but the muggy days have continued. I could not decide when I should spray pesticides. As you know, phytophthora blight and anthracnose are horrible diseases which can destroy an entire field. I saw my neighbor spraying pesticides yesterday. But I am still not sure because the price of pesticides has been rising. In addition, I was hesitating because the spray might lead to my pesticide residue exceeding the limit, which would prevent me from receiving eco-friendly product certification.
A few days later, I received an SMS from the agricultural extension service center. “[Caution] Red pepper blight!” It was not a warning level, but my wife and I decided to spray the chemicals. I used to follow what my neighbors did, so I frequently sprayed pesticides on the plants. But now I reduced the number of sprays and was able to control diseases at the right time thanks to the SMS alert service.
Time slipped by, and it was time to harvest my red peppers. I asked my neighbor, “Hey, how many times did you spray pesticides this year?” He replied, “I guess I sprayed 3 times more that you did. I should have followed you. I find no difference between your peppers and mine.”
It is worthwhile to save labor and money by reducing the number of times I use a chemical spray. But one of my biggest achievements was that I was able to build up trust with my customers by providing them with safer and healthier products.