To boost modern agricultural development in Hebei, the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has launched six key projects!

Technologies like 5G enable the acquisition of high-throughput agricultural data, fostering the development of intelligent interactive platforms that enhance the networking, precision, and smart capabilities of agricultural production. Specifically, more than 50智能化牧場s will be established in major dairy counties—regions characterized by a large number of dairy farms, a strong foundation for standardized, large-scale farming, and high farmer engagement—leveraging IoT technologies to automate tasks such as cow milking measurement, real-time milk yield tracking, and automatic environmental monitoring. 6 Key Projects!

Recently, the Hebei Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued the "Hebei Province Smart Agriculture Demonstration Construction Special Action Plan" (2020–2025). The "Plan" emphasizes closely aligning with the implementation of the Rural Revitalization Strategy, accelerating the integration of cutting-edge information technologies—such as IoT, artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, and 5G—into agricultural production. It focuses on six key tasks, launches six major projects, and vigorously promotes innovative development in "Internet Plus" modern agriculture, thereby speeding up the digital transformation of the agricultural sector.

Image source: Visual China

The special action for demonstrating smart agriculture construction is part of Hebei Province's Digital Economy Development Plan. One of 20 key special initiatives. The action plan outlines the development goals: by By the end of 2020, 100 exemplary integrated applications of agricultural IoT will have been developed and implemented, with the adoption rate of information technologies like agricultural IoT reaching over 18%. By 2022, the proportion of smart applications in large-scale facility-based crop cultivation, livestock and poultry farming, and aquaculture will exceed 60%. By 2025, 100 demonstration zones showcasing cutting-edge, networked, intelligent, and precision-driven modern "crop-livestock-processing" eco-agriculture will be established, fostering innovation and practical applications. Simultaneously, the intelligent application rate in national and provincial-level modern agricultural parks will reach 100%, paving the way toward the ambitious goal of achieving integrated industry development, seamless data connectivity, and highly efficient, user-friendly smart agriculture services.

Demand-driven, with a focus on 6 Key Tasks

Smart farming. Promote the integrated application of smart sensing, analytics, control technologies, and equipment in large-scale field farming and facility horticulture. Actively introduce, adapt, and innovate automated and intelligent systems—and digital tools—such as water-fertilizer integration, automated spray and drip irrigation, and robotic harvesting. Simultaneously, advance factory-based, intelligent, and standardized production practices. Accelerate the development of an agricultural pest and disease monitoring network and a digital plant protection and quarantine system, enabling intelligent identification of major pests and diseases, as well as digitized prevention and control measures.
Smart livestock farming. Promote the integrated application of technologies and equipment such as QR codes in livestock and poultry breeding facilities and farm areas, actively introducing digital systems and tools like ventilation and temperature control, precision feeding systems, and manure management solutions. This will enable intelligent monitoring of the livestock environment and precise feeding practices. Accelerate the widespread adoption of individual animal monitoring applications, including smart physiological detection, to achieve accurate diagnosis, early warning, and effective prevention of animal disease outbreaks. Additionally, leverage electronic traceability codes and direct reporting systems to enhance seamless information sharing across all stages of the production process.
Smart fisheries. Promote the integrated application of technologies and equipment such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things in aquaculture facilities. Actively introduce intelligent systems and tools, including real-time water environment monitoring, automated precision feeding, and automatic control of net cages, to achieve precise measurement and control in aquaculture operations and smart, data-driven management. Upgrade and enhance fishing vessel communication systems with advanced features like satellite communications, navigation positioning, and collision avoidance, alongside digitalized fishing gear. Additionally, leverage system-based approaches—such as aquatic disease monitoring and early warning tools, as well as quality and safety traceability mechanisms—to strengthen surveillance, early detection, and coordinated prevention and control efforts against major aquatic disease outbreaks.
Image source: Visual China
Smart seed industry. Promote the integrated application of advanced technologies and equipment—such as intelligent data mining and analysis, and smart breeding—in seed production bases, livestock and poultry farms, and aquatic hatchery areas, to enhance breeding efficiency. Additionally, implement DNA-based identity verification for crop varieties, establishing a seed quality oversight system centered around variety-specific identification data. Accelerate The shift from "experience-driven breeding" to "precision breeding," gradually enabling customized, design-based crop improvement.
Smart new formats for agriculture and rural development. Promote the integrated application of technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data in emerging internet-based agricultural models, including adoption farming, agritourism, urban agriculture, shared agriculture, and cloud farms. Deeply explore and leverage data resources related to agricultural production, market transactions, and agricultural inputs, while advancing data-driven credit, insurance, and supply-chain finance business models. Additionally, encourage demonstration counties for rural tourism and "beautiful leisure villages" to embrace online operations, fostering innovative approaches to connect farmers' products seamlessly with both online and offline sales channels. Ultimately, this will help create diversified, shared platforms that highlight specialty agriculture and agricultural product marketing.
Smart Regulation. Promote the integrated application of technologies such as big data and blockchain in agricultural and rural business management and scientific decision-making, strengthen the industry's capabilities in data collection, aggregation, analysis, and application, and advance the seamless integration of online and offline government administration. This will enhance macro-level management capabilities—including guiding production, providing market alerts, enforcing regulations, handling emergencies, and mitigating disaster risks and impacts.

Drive promotion through demonstration and implementation 6 Key Projects

Smart Agriculture Big Data Engineering. Focusing on key areas such as large-scale farming, facility agriculture, livestock breeding, agricultural machinery operations, and pest and disease monitoring, we will leverage big data technology to progressively achieve phased data sharing and collaboration. This will enable the digitalization of historical agricultural records, automate data collection processes, enhance the intelligence of data utilization, and streamline data-sharing practices for greater convenience.

Image source: Visual China

Smart Agriculture Innovation Project. Focusing on key regions, critical sectors, and essential agricultural products, we will strengthen the innovative application of smart agriculture technologies such as intelligent sensing, smart control, and model simulation, while establishing and improving a robust system. The 5G-powered smart agriculture technology system seamlessly integrates original innovation, integrated innovation, and the process of introducing, absorbing, and re-innovating.
Smart Agriculture Demonstration Project. Focusing on applications that utilize high-quality, high-precision, highly reliable, and low-power sensors specifically designed for agricultural production environments and the physiological indicators of plants and animals, leveraging IoT and artificial intelligence. Technologies like 5G enable the acquisition of high-throughput agricultural data, fostering the development of intelligent interactive platforms that enhance the networking, precision, and smart capabilities of agricultural production. Specifically, more than 50智能化牧場s will be established in major dairy counties—regions characterized by a large number of dairy farms, a strong foundation for standardized, large-scale farming, and high farmer engagement—leveraging IoT technologies to automate tasks such as cow milking measurement, real-time milk yield tracking, and automatic environmental monitoring.
"The 'Internet Plus' Project to Bring Agricultural Products from Villages into Cities." Guide new agricultural business entities to connect with domestic e-commerce platforms, deepen collaboration between leading agricultural enterprises and specialty agricultural product brands in terms of marketing and sales, and intensify efforts to promote Hebei's agricultural brands while strengthening the development of its traceability systems. Cultivate "Internet Plus Order Agriculture" establishes provincial- and city-level systems to connect agricultural production with sales, enhancing end-to-end services across the entire production, supply, and distribution chain. Focusing on the Beijing-Tianjin market and high-end consumer groups, the initiative vigorously promotes personalized online customization and group-based orders for organic and eco-friendly agricultural products. Additionally, it aims to cultivate more than 20 provincial-level pilot counties showcasing the "Internet Plus" approach to bringing rural produce into urban markets, ultimately developing scalable, replicable models and standardized practices tailored to local conditions.

Image source: Visual China

Smart Agriculture Monitoring and Early Warning Project. By integrating the construction of demonstration counties for smart agriculture industrialization, we will pursue breakthroughs in individual products, leveraging Based on 10 categories of agricultural products, the initiative involves comprehensive data collection and analysis across all stages of the entire industry chain—ranging from production and processing to distribution, sales, and consumption—providing a foundation for data-driven decision-making. It also accelerates the development of regulatory traceability and disease-control systems, establishing an integrated livestock monitoring and supervision service system that combines data collection, statistical analysis, inspection and oversight, information services, and command coordination. This move aims to advance the seamless integration of livestock regulation and monitoring processes.
Smart Agriculture Talent Development Program. Leveraging the strengths of research institutions, universities, and high-tech enterprises—both within and outside the province—in areas such as technology and talent, to drive advancements in artificial intelligence, Research and development of key enabling technologies such as 5G are being conducted in the agricultural production sector, driving forward smart agriculture initiatives, breaking through core technological barriers, and strengthening the commercialization and application of scientific and technological innovations. Agricultural entities—particularly new types of farming businesses—are encouraged to collaborate with research institutions, universities, and high-tech companies, fostering the joint development of specialized, multi-skilled professionals in smart agriculture. Leveraging resources like training programs for new-type professional farmers, "Information to Villages and Households" initiatives, and mobile app skills training for farmers, efforts are being intensified to enhance smart agriculture-related skill development. Priority is given to training technical staff from agricultural parks, leading enterprises, cooperative organizations, and family farms, as well as new-type professional farmers and rural information officers, aiming to cultivate top-tier experts in smart agriculture applications. The goal is to provide training to at least 100,000 individuals annually.

Source: Hebei Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Editor: Hebei Brand Agriculture