Zhangjiagang is unlocking the potential of smart agriculture through cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, Artificial Intelligence, and digital twin systems. As these innovations are integrated deeper into the agricultural sector and rural industries continue to evolve, the city's farmlands are embracing modernization, ushering in a new era of agricultural development.
By 2024, Zhangjiagang had established 97 large-scale agricultural Internet of Things (IoT) bases and earned multiple provincial recognitions, including two provincial digital agriculture and rural development bases, one digital farm, two e-commerce demonstration units, and two smart agriculture demonstration bases.
The city also boasts 10 smart agriculture production sites recognized by Suzhou, four smart farm application cases, 10 smart agriculture bases, and six smart agriculture brands. The city's digital agriculture and rural development index now stands at approximately 75 percent.
An aerial view of an agriculture production site in Zhangjiagang. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]
Jiangsu Shangang Ecological Agriculture Technology Co serves as a prime example of this transformation. Its smart agriculture cloud platform provides comprehensive insight into the farm's operations, covering crop varieties, agricultural machinery activities, and real-time environmental data. This "intelligent hub" centrally manages all smart devices, offering customized agricultural solutions based on field conditions. Workers just need to handle the application of pesticides and fertilizers according to system-generated prescriptions.
Sensors placed throughout the greenhouse monitor critical parameters such as temperature, humidity, and light intensity. These data points are processed in real time to automatically adjust shading curtains and insulation systems, ensuring optimal growing conditions for crops.
As a benchmark smart farm, the base has fully mechanized and digitalized its entire vegetable production chain, from planting and harvesting to transportation, grading, packaging, and waste management. Equipped with 78 advanced agricultural machines, including automatic seeders, remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sprayers, and smart waste treatment systems, the farm has successfully streamlined the entire process from plowing and planting to managing and harvesting.
"With digital agricultural technologies and the precise controlling of water, fertilizers, and pesticides, we have reduced pesticide applications three-to-five-fold per mu (0.07 hactares) annually, cutting pesticide use by 30 percent and irrigation water consumption by over 25 percent. Labor costs have also decreased by 30 to 40 percent," said Liu Canguang of Jiangsu Shangang Ecological Agriculture Technology Co. The cost savings per mu now exceed 1,000 yuan, Liu added.
The farm has also embraced digital marketing strategies, including live-stream promotions, online ordering, and smart logistics distribution. This approach has pushed the commercialization rate of its agricultural products to 92 percent, increasing farmers' incomes.