The 4th Agri-Food Tech Startup Expo (AFPRO 2026) opens at COEX in Seoul from July 15 to 17, bringing together 220 startups across 360 booths. A major focus this year is pet healthcare technology, with AI-driven diagnostic tools and human-grade pet food reflecting a domestic market projected to reach 21 trillion won by 2032.
AI diagnostic support for pets
One standout technology uses a smartphone app to analyze a dog's photo for periodontal disease, cataracts, and patellar luxation in seconds. This AI diagnostic support tool mirrors the rapid image analysis now common in AI for Healthcare, where speed and accessibility are critical. As "pet humanization" spreads, human-grade pet food - produced to standards fit for people - is becoming a global norm, and AI is accelerating pet health screening at the point of care.
Several domestic startups will present pet tech solutions at the expo:
- Grass Medi (Hall C 5209): Develops customized medicines and healthcare products for pets.
- Peterpeter (Hall C 5007): Health management solutions based on animal bio-data.
- Pells (Hall C 5104): The world's first immediate-matching solution for animal drug patients based on a pet mobility screening platform.
- Diddle Lab (Hall C 5210): A pet food brand that designs health routines with patented technology.
- Active Pet (Hall C 4103): Functional pet healthcare based on natural materials.
- Rebon Lab (Hall C 5201): Human-grade premium pet food with no preservatives or additives.
Investment interest in pet tech is rising. Nine investment firms will join the on-site "AC Special Gallery" for startup scouting and investment consultations.
Physical AI and AX enter the field
The expo also highlights Physical AI - robots that can recognize crops, harvest produce, and follow workers to carry loads - addressing persistent labor shortages. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Rural Development Administration plan to invest 57.2 billion won by 2030 to develop autonomous farm equipment. MetaPharmUs is developing OmniFarm, a greenhouse physical AI, and The Robotics will show its autonomous-following robot BotBox. AX (AI Transformation) is evolving beyond automation into decision-making platforms that diagnose growing environments and deliver optimal farming prescriptions.
Why this matters for healthcare professionals
Pet healthcare technology often serves as an early testing ground for AI diagnostics that later apply to human medicine. The image recognition models that screen pets for cataracts or periodontal disease use the same underlying techniques as human telemedicine platforms. For healthcare professionals tracking AI adoption, the expo offers a preview of how fast, mobile-based screening tools can reduce diagnostic bottlenecks. The 21-trillion-won pet market also signals a growing crossover between animal and human health ecosystems, with implications for pharmaceutical development and personalized care.
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