On the evening of December 2,2023,according to CCTV Finance,the first unmanned vertical plant factory independently developed by the Urban Agriculture Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences was put into use in Chengdu,Sichuan.Experts say that the plant factory not only has the highest number of floors in the world,but also overcomes global challenges,integrates multiple advanced technologies,and is overall at the world's leading level.
  The reporter of Securities Daily learned that with the growing urban consumption and the continuous progress of agricultural technology,the common technologies of artificial lighting,automatic management,hydroponic nutrition,root spray and so on in the above plant factories have been widely used,and a series of positive progress has been made among listed companies,small and medium-sized enterprises and farmers,which also opens up many new fronts for advanced technology to revitalize agriculture.
  Plant factories integrate multiple technologies
  According to CCTV Finance,the first unmanned vertical plant factory located in Chengdu,Sichuan has overcome the global problem of low light efficiency and high energy consumption in plant factories.The current 20 story vertical unmanned plant factory is the world's first.This project can produce more than 10 crops of vegetables per year,with an annual yield of approximately 50 tons or more,equivalent to the yield of 60 acres of farmland.Gan Bingcheng,Deputy Director of the Urban Agriculture Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,stated that the entire automated production system of the plant factory should be at a leading level in the world,and the number of layers of facility individual production is also the highest in the world.
  Li Binbin,a big data analyst at Huinong.com,introduced to reporters the technical difficulties that plant factories have overcome:Plant factories are based on the concept of factory production,combining common technologies such as soilless cultivation,artificial lighting,digital management,sprinkler systems,and biological protection to complete the entire process from cultivation to harvest in the factory.Through introduction,digestion,absorption,and innovation,domestic enterprises have continuously explored and innovated in the field of plant factories for more than 20 years.The common technology system of plant factories in China has rapidly evolved,A complete and effective model for the design,verification,implementation,and operation management of plant factories has been established
  Li Binbin added,"In the past,the main technical difficulties of plant factories were high energy consumption and low light efficiency,making them a major electricity consumer.In addition,high initial investment and long recycling cycles have deterred social capital.Now,thanks to the widespread use of LED technology,photovoltaic wind power,and advanced energy storage systems,plant factories are no longer a major electricity consumer,and their social promotion speed is also increasing rapidly."
  According to the Oriental Wealth Choice terminal,Shunxin Agriculture,Agricultural Products,and Zhongxing Mushroom Industry all have soilless cultivation technology and production bases;San'an Optoelectronics,Foshan Lighting,Lianyu Co.,Ltd.,Mulinsen,Songsheng Co.,Ltd.have multiple technological developments and reserves in the field of plant lighting,and related products have been commercialized.
  New business models derived from common technologies
  Advanced technologies such as soilless cultivation,artificial lighting,digital management,sprinkler irrigation systems,and biological protection are key common technologies integrated in plant factories.They are also powerful tools for many listed companies,small and micro enterprises,and farmers to deeply cultivate advanced agriculture,and have spawned many new business models,opening up numerous new fronts for agricultural and rural revitalization.
  Relying on the three major tools of soilless cultivation,artificial lighting,and digital management,Zhongxing Mushroom Industry,Wanchen Group,and Xuerong Biotechnology have achieved factory cultivation of edible mushrooms.
  Common technologies such as digital management,sprinkler systems,and biological protection have also brought convenience to urban greening,three-dimensional agriculture,and rooftop agriculture.
  Changsha Greenland Greenhouse Industry Co.,Ltd.is a small and micro enterprise engaged in greenhouse design and construction.Combining common technologies such as digital management and sprinkler systems,it has provided rooftop agricultural solutions for hundreds of households."In the past,we mainly built greenhouses with low technological content and small revenue scale.Now,combining intelligent technology,micro spray systems,and rooftop photovoltaics,we have entered the field of energy-saving,water-saving,refined,and intelligent rooftop agriculture,which can provide more personalized solutions,"said Li Xin,a salesperson at the company,to reporters
  Professor Cao Erbao,Vice Dean of the School of Economics and Trade at Hunan University,also highly praised the above practices:Plant factories emerged in the Netherlands,took shape in the Middle East,and improved in Japan and South Korea.The common technologies among them have given rise to many derivative industries such as three-dimensional agriculture,soilless cultivation,smart greenhouses,and wall greening,solving problems such as limited arable land,high population,harsh natural environment,and scarce freshwater resources in the local area.This has also inspired advanced agriculture in China.From China's practice,edible mushrooms,fresh vegetables,fruits,and other products have been extensively industrialized and planted with high added value The factory planting techniques and models of flowers,potted plants,traditional Chinese medicine,etc.are also actively being explored,providing reference and actionable fresh cases for the revitalization of agriculture and rural areas in China with advanced agricultural technology