The Agricultural Zhongguancun Science Park, located in Pinggu District, Beijing, plays an important role in China’s efforts to innovate in agriculture and food systems. Modeled after the Zhongguancun tech hub in Beijing, the park brings together government policies, research institutions, and ag-tech investment to address key challenges in agriculture and food production.
On 5 December 2024, DCZ experts Eva Sternfeld and Michaela Boehme visited the park with a group of Chinese experts from the animal husbandry and low-carbon agriculture sectors. The visit included several key initiatives:
DeePro Technology (苏陀科技), a Chinese start-up, presented their plant-based meat products, which replicate the taste and texture of traditional meats. These products, already available in China’s major supermarkets, provide a sustainable alternative to animal agriculture that help to reduce the carbon footprint of food production. Using fewer natural resources than animal-based proteins, plant-based alternatives have a strong advantage in ensuring food security, particularly in regions with limited land and water resources such as China, the company representative explained to the experts.
Sunlon Group (首农集团) shared advancements in animal breeding, including high-yielding Holstein cows and cows that produce A2 milk, which is easier to digest for lactose-intolerant consumers compared to regular milk that contains both A1 and A2 proteins. The group has also been involved in the breeding of high-performing poultry and pig breeds, thereby seeking to reduce China’s reliance on imported breeding material for its animal husbandry sector.
A visit to a dairy farm run by Modern Dairy (现代农业) showcased the use of modern technologies to lower the environmental impact of dairy farming while maintaining productivity. Through digital technologies, feed conversion of animals was monitored, while modern waste management ensured a reduction in carbon emissions. Renewable energy sources and improved housing environments for better animal welfare were also on display.
Another project visited was Eco-Bridge (生态桥), a company that helps Pinggu’s fruit farmers convert plant residues into organic compost, thereby preventing farmers from burning pruning waste on their fields. The company uses industrial composting methods in a highly managed environment, where high temperatures promote the rapid decomposition of organic matter while killing pathogens and weed seeds. As a social enterprise supported by CECEP (China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group)—a large Chinese state-owned enterprise focused on energy conservation, environmental protection, and green development—Eco-Bridge offers local farmers organic fertilizer at no cost, exchanging one kilogram of fertilizer for every kilogram of pruning waste they supply. The company’s total production capacity is 12.000 tons of organic fertilizer per year.
Linking policy, science, and innovation
In addition to its role as an incubator, the Agricultural Zhongguancun Science Park has increasingly become a center for ag-tech exchange, hosting events like the annual World AgriFood Innovation Conference. By combining an enabling business environment with access to basic research from institutions such as China Agricultural University, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Wageningen University, the park seeks to address China’s agricultural challenges, ranging from breeding to low-carbon technologies.
