On 23 October 2024, China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) unveiled the “Smart Agriculture Action Plan 2024-2028,” building on the earlier “Rural and Agricultural Digitalization Development Plan 2019-2025.” Recognizing that digitalization is essential for achieving food security and revitalizing rural areas, MARA and the Chinese government are advancing strategic initiatives in smart agriculture.
The action plan outlines three key objectives: enhancing public service capabilities in smart agriculture, expanding applications in critical areas, and leading by example to produce tangible, accessible outcomes. The aim is to achieve a national rate of digital integration in agricultural production exceeding 32% by 2028.
Notable targets and initiatives in the action plan:
1. Public service development: The plan aims to accelerate the creation of public service products, such as a national agricultural and rural big data platform, a unified “one map” for agricultural and rural land use, and foundational model algorithms.
2. Pilot programs and demonstration farms: Zhejiang Province will spearhead trials, utilizing models like the “Fuxi Farm”—digitally integrated grid farms equipped with modern agricultural machinery. The government plans to develop 10,000 such farms, inspired by Fuxi, a mythological Han-Chinese deity of agriculture. Smart agriculture applications in Zhejiang will link the “Zhejiang Agricultural Code” with the national “All Agricultural Code,” promoting interconnection and data interoperability among the ministry, provinces, and businesses. By 2028, MARA envisions a completed “agricultural industry brain” for various sectors, over 1,000 digital agricultural factories, and 100 future farms, alongside standards and protocols for smart farming. The Chinese Academy of Sciences will lead efforts to explore and refine the Fuxi Farm model.
3. Phased implementation: In 2024, MARA will launch three primary actions focused on enhancing public service capacity, expanding smart agriculture applications, and promoting best practices, along with eight key tasks. By 2026, the smart agriculture public service framework will be established, featuring intelligent solutions to boost crop yields and smart farm models for animal husbandry and fisheries. By 2028, the goal is to establish a mature digital transformation pathway, achieving a rate of digital integration in agricultural production above 32%.
4. Data infrastructure development: The plan continues to build a national agricultural and rural big data platform, incorporating data classification standards, a shared data catalog, and the “All Farmers Code” for unified coding of agricultural resources and products. MARA will upgrade the “Agricultural Direct” mobile platform to expand digital agricultural services. By 2025, foundational data management systems and standards will be established, with a fully functional, collaborative, and effective national big data platform ready by 2028.
5. Basic model development for smart agriculture: MARA calls for the development of basic model algorithms with independent intellectual property rights for crop growth, animal behavior monitoring, production decision-making, and other applications. This includes cloud-based tools such as intelligent breeding and farm management software. Large AI models will be applied to agricultural research, production, and management. By 2026, a model library and open platform will be available, with over 20 basic model algorithms and SaaS tools developed by 2028.
6. International collaboration: The plan emphasizes the significance of international exchanges in technology, talent, standards, and best practices in smart agriculture.
While the action plan is ambitious, its success depends on effective implementation and coordination among policymakers, agribusinesses, and farmers to realize a digitally advanced and efficient agricultural system in China.
Sources
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. (2024, October 23). 全国智慧农业行动计划 (2024—2028年) [National Smart Agriculture Action Plan (2024-2028)]. http://www.moa.gov.cn/govpublic/SCYJJXXS/202410/t20241025_6465041.htm