This study was conducted to analyze factors affecting acceptance of smart farm technology. Smart farm technology is rapidly being introduced to agriculture in accordance with the progress of the 4th Industrial Revolution, but research on this is still little. Therefore, in this study, based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), a research model reflecting the characteristics of smart farm technology was constructed. To test this, empirical analysis was performed. A survey was conducted for students in smart farm technology education and adult male and female farmers who are currently planning to operate smart farms. Valid 204 sample were used for analysis. The hypothesis test was based on multiple regression analysis using SPSS 24 statistical package. For the mediating effect and moderating effect, Process Macro 3.4 based on the regression equation was used. The results of testing the hypothesis are as follows. First, in the causal hypothesis test, it was shown that performance expectancy, social influence and price value have a significant positive effect on the intention to use smart farm technology. On the other hand, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions were not tested for a significant influence on the use of smart farm technology. As a result of analyzing the mediating effect of trust, it was found that trust plays a mediating role between performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, price value and intention to use smart farm technology. In particular, the effort expectancy has not been tested for a direct significant effect on intention to use smart farm technology, but it has been shown to have an impact through trust. Trust was found to be a full mediating between the effort expectancy and the intention to use the smart farm technology. The current IT level of prospective users has been shown to play a moderating role between performance expectancy, facilitating conditions and intention to use smart farm technology. In particular, the IT level was found to strengthen the relationship between performance expectancy and intention to use smart farm technology. Based on the results of these studies, academic and practical implications were suggested.

The purpose of this study was to examine the intention of consumer acceptance of technology in agricultural production by applying the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to smart farm. In particular, this study analyzed the intention to accept the technology of agricultural students, farmers, start-up farmers, returning farmers, and returnees in the general manufacturing industry and high-tech industries, and in agricultural sectors corresponding to primary industries. The results showed that performance expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, IT development level, and reliability had a significant influence on the intention to use smart farm technology. However, effort expectancy and price value were rejected because no significant impact on use intention was tested. In addition, the influences of the variables showing their influence were reliability (β=.569) > IT development level (β=.252) > social influence (β=.235) > performance expectancy (β=.182) > facilitating conditions (β=.134).

The purpose of the study focuses on the agriculture education services in the changing rural areas conditions such as population decline, aging society, and returning farmers. The study reviews the effects of agricultural education services on returning farmers and local residents for satisfaction, intention for recommendation, and intention to continue participation. Further, the study aims to investigate any difference in the level of satisfaction for two groups. The results suggested that there is a meaningful difference between return-farmers and local residents. Among the demographic variables, age and income showed a notable difference. However, sex, level of education and type of household did not suggest noticeable differences. In addition, the study accessed agricultural education from a service perspective and analyzed its service quality and customer satisfaction, loyalty and relationship using a service profit chain model. Like the result of most other studies, the analysis showed that these had positive relationships. While the study focused on the efficiency of agriculture education training program in agriculture technology centers, the study carries a meaningful value in that it discovered a meaningful difference in the satisfaction level between returning farmers and locals despite the fact that agriculture education was applied as a part of service. In practical terms, the study pointed out the need for consumer-centered education that reflects the characteristics of the groups rather than standardized education.