Smart Agriculture Plant Factory Opens in Kuqa Xinjiang - China

Smart Agriculture Plant Factory Opens in Kuqa Xinjiang - China

A technician from Ningbo City checks the growth of lettuce at a factory-styled smart farm in Kuqa City, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 13, 2025. The factory-styled smart farm in Kuqa City stands as a flagship project of paired assistance program financed by Ningbo City in east China's Zhejiang Province. The factory enables stable year-round crop production via intelligently controlled temperature, humidity, light and nutrient solutions. As a milestone of Ningbo-Kuqa collaboration, the project has adopted soilless cultivation technologies and devices provided by companies in Ningbo to grow premium agricultural products. Photo by Liu Jiaqi/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

Agricultural Drone in Fuzhou

Agricultural Drone in Fuzhou

FUZHOU, CHINA - FEBRUARY 28, 2025 - Vegetables farmer uses illuminated drones to harvest asparagus lettuce overnight in Guanban town, Fuzhou city, Fujian province, China, Feb. 28, 2025.

Agricultural Drone in Fuzhou

Agricultural Drone in Fuzhou

FUZHOU, CHINA - FEBRUARY 28, 2025 - Vegetables farmer uses illuminated drones to harvest asparagus lettuce overnight in Guanban town, Fuzhou city, Fujian province, China, Feb. 28, 2025.

Agricultural Drone in Fuzhou

Agricultural Drone in Fuzhou

FUZHOU, CHINA - FEBRUARY 28, 2025 - Vegetables farmer uses illuminated drones to harvest asparagus lettuce overnight in Guanban town, Fuzhou city, Fujian province, China, Feb. 28, 2025.

Agricultural Drone in Fuzhou

Agricultural Drone in Fuzhou

FUZHOU, CHINA - FEBRUARY 28, 2025 - Vegetables farmer uses illuminated drones to harvest asparagus lettuce overnight in Guanban town, Fuzhou city, Fujian province, China, Feb. 28, 2025.

Agricultural Drone in Fuzhou

Agricultural Drone in Fuzhou

FUZHOU, CHINA - FEBRUARY 28, 2025 - Vegetables farmer uses illuminated drones to harvest asparagus lettuce overnight in Guanban town, Fuzhou city, Fujian province, China, Feb. 28, 2025.

Agricultural Drone in Fuzhou

Agricultural Drone in Fuzhou

FUZHOU, CHINA - FEBRUARY 28, 2025 - Vegetables farmer uses illuminated drones to harvest asparagus lettuce overnight in Guanban town, Fuzhou city, Fujian province, China, Feb. 28, 2025.

Smart Agriculture in Chongqing

Smart Agriculture in Chongqing

CHONGQING, CHINA - AUGUST 23, 2021 - A worker is checking the growth of lettuce on a breeding rack at the farm's artificial light source ready-to-eat restaurant in Chongqing, China, August 23, 2021.

CHINA-FUJIAN-QUANZHOU-SANANBIO-PLANT FACTORY (CN)

CHINA-FUJIAN-QUANZHOU-SANANBIO-PLANT FACTORY (CN)

(240510) -- QUANZHOU, May 10, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on May 8, 2024 shows lettuce seeds growing under LED lighting at Sananbio plant factory in Anxi County of Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. Sananbio, a joint venture between the Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Sanan Group, a Chinese optoelectronics giant, has developed an intelligent plant cultivating system integrating research and development results with LED lighting technology, and applied it to a new-generation automated plant factory. The plant factory can achieve a daily industrial production of 1.5 tonnes of vegetables, that could supply vegetables stably to nearby cities such as Fuzhou, Xiamen and Quanzhou. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

CHINA-FUJIAN-QUANZHOU-SANANBIO-PLANT FACTORY (CN)

CHINA-FUJIAN-QUANZHOU-SANANBIO-PLANT FACTORY (CN)

(240510) -- QUANZHOU, May 10, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A staff member displays a lettuce seedling at Sananbio plant factory in Anxi County of Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, May 8, 2024. Sananbio, a joint venture between the Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Sanan Group, a Chinese optoelectronics giant, has developed an intelligent plant cultivating system integrating research and development results with LED lighting technology, and applied it to a new-generation automated plant factory. The plant factory can achieve a daily industrial production of 1.5 tonnes of vegetables, that could supply vegetables stably to nearby cities such as Fuzhou, Xiamen and Quanzhou. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

CHINA-FUJIAN-QUANZHOU-SANANBIO-PLANT FACTORY (CN)

CHINA-FUJIAN-QUANZHOU-SANANBIO-PLANT FACTORY (CN)

(240510) -- QUANZHOU, May 10, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on May 8, 2024 shows the harvestable lettuce at Sananbio plant factory in Anxi County of Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. Sananbio, a joint venture between the Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Sanan Group, a Chinese optoelectronics giant, has developed an intelligent plant cultivating system integrating research and development results with LED lighting technology, and applied it to a new-generation automated plant factory. The plant factory can achieve a daily industrial production of 1.5 tonnes of vegetables, that could supply vegetables stably to nearby cities such as Fuzhou, Xiamen and Quanzhou. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

CHINA-FUJIAN-QUANZHOU-SANANBIO-PLANT FACTORY (CN)

CHINA-FUJIAN-QUANZHOU-SANANBIO-PLANT FACTORY (CN)

(240510) -- QUANZHOU, May 10, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A staff member transplants lettuce seedlings at Sananbio plant factory in Anxi County of Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, May 8, 2024. Sananbio, a joint venture between the Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Sanan Group, a Chinese optoelectronics giant, has developed an intelligent plant cultivating system integrating research and development results with LED lighting technology, and applied it to a new-generation automated plant factory. The plant factory can achieve a daily industrial production of 1.5 tonnes of vegetables, that could supply vegetables stably to nearby cities such as Fuzhou, Xiamen and Quanzhou. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

CHINA-FUJIAN-QUANZHOU-SANANBIO-PLANT FACTORY (CN)

CHINA-FUJIAN-QUANZHOU-SANANBIO-PLANT FACTORY (CN)

(240510) -- QUANZHOU, May 10, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on May 8, 2024 shows lettuce seedlings under LED lighting at Sananbio plant factory in Anxi County of Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. Sananbio, a joint venture between the Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Sanan Group, a Chinese optoelectronics giant, has developed an intelligent plant cultivating system integrating research and development results with LED lighting technology, and applied it to a new-generation automated plant factory. The plant factory can achieve a daily industrial production of 1.5 tonnes of vegetables, that could supply vegetables stably to nearby cities such as Fuzhou, Xiamen and Quanzhou. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

CHINA-FUJIAN-QUANZHOU-SANANBIO-PLANT FACTORY (CN)

CHINA-FUJIAN-QUANZHOU-SANANBIO-PLANT FACTORY (CN)

(240510) -- QUANZHOU, May 10, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Staff members transplant lettuce seedlings at Sananbio plant factory in Anxi County of Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, May 8, 2024. Sananbio, a joint venture between the Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Sanan Group, a Chinese optoelectronics giant, has developed an intelligent plant cultivating system integrating research and development results with LED lighting technology, and applied it to a new-generation automated plant factory. The plant factory can achieve a daily industrial production of 1.5 tonnes of vegetables, that could supply vegetables stably to nearby cities such as Fuzhou, Xiamen and Quanzhou. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

CHINA-YUNNAN-PLATEAU-FARMING (CN)

CHINA-YUNNAN-PLATEAU-FARMING (CN)

(240309) -- SHANGRI-LA, March 9, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Villagers grow lettuce on a plateau farm in Jiantang Township in Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

CHINA-YUNNAN-PLATEAU-FARMING (CN)

CHINA-YUNNAN-PLATEAU-FARMING (CN)

(240309) -- SHANGRI-LA, March 9, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A villager grows lettuce on a plateau farm in Jiantang Township in Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Peacock of Pindehong

Peacock of Pindehong

LIUZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 30, 2023 - Photo taken on Dec 30, 2023 shows Peacock of Pindehong in Banlan town, Rongan County, Liuzhou City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region. Its main ingredients are dried rice, chicken, beef, bamboo shoots, mint, lettuce.

Peacock of Pindehong

Peacock of Pindehong

LIUZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 30, 2023 - Photo taken on Dec 30, 2023 shows Peacock of Pindehong in Banlan town, Rongan County, Liuzhou City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region. Its main ingredients are dried rice, chicken, beef, bamboo shoots, mint, lettuce.

Peacock of Pindehong

Peacock of Pindehong

LIUZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 30, 2023 - Photo taken on Dec 30, 2023 shows Peacock of Pindehong in Banlan town, Rongan County, Liuzhou City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region. Its main ingredients are dried rice, chicken, beef, bamboo shoots, mint, lettuce.

Peacock of Pindehong

Peacock of Pindehong

LIUZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 30, 2023 - Photo taken on Dec 30, 2023 shows Peacock of Pindehong in Banlan town, Rongan County, Liuzhou City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region. Its main ingredients are dried rice, chicken, beef, bamboo shoots, mint, lettuce.

Peacock of Pindehong

Peacock of Pindehong

LIUZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 30, 2023 - Photo taken on Dec 30, 2023 shows Peacock of Pindehong in Banlan town, Rongan County, Liuzhou City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region. Its main ingredients are dried rice, chicken, beef, bamboo shoots, mint, lettuce.

Peacock of Pindehong

Peacock of Pindehong

LIUZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 30, 2023 - Photo taken on Dec 30, 2023 shows Peacock of Pindehong in Banlan town, Rongan County, Liuzhou City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region. Its main ingredients are dried rice, chicken, beef, bamboo shoots, mint, lettuce.

Peacock of Pindehong

Peacock of Pindehong

LIUZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 30, 2023 - Photo taken on Dec 30, 2023 shows Peacock of Pindehong in Banlan town, Rongan County, Liuzhou City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region. Its main ingredients are dried rice, chicken, beef, bamboo shoots, mint, lettuce.

New Zealand's food prices up 8 pct annually

STORY: New Zealand's food prices up 8 pct annually DATELINE: Oct. 14, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:26 LOCATION: Wellington CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views of Wellington 2. various of supermarkets STORYLINE: Food prices in New Zealand were 8 percent higher in September than in the same period last year, according to the statistics department Stats NZ on Thursday. The largest contributing food group was grocery food, which includes non-perishables and dairy products, said Stats NZ's consumer prices manager James Mitchell. "Fresh eggs, potato crisps, and lollies were the largest drivers within grocery food," Mitchell said. In September 2023, the annual increase was due to rises across all the broad food categories measured by Stats NZ. Monthly food prices fell 0.4 percent in September compared with the previous month, Mitchell said. "Decreasing prices for fruit and vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce contributed the most to the overall monthly fall," he said. Xi

China's smart agriculture competition offers smart solutions for agriculture

STORY: China's smart agriculture competition offers smart solutions for agriculture DATELINE: Feb. 15, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:48 LOCATION: SHANGHAI, China CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the 3rd Smart Agriculture Competition held in China's Shanghai 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): XIONG YUANKE, Competitor from Shanghai Jiaotong University 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHA LINGYAN, Competitor from Shanghai Jiaotong University STORYLINE: The final round of the 3rd Smart Agriculture Competition is being held in China's Shanghai. Competitors need to cultivate a new variety of lettuce called "Crunchy" in the next 3 months. They will use AI and digital technologies. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): XIONG YUANKE, Competitor from Shanghai Jiaotong University "The container is where we will grow Crunchy for this competition during the next 90 days. We have nine planting sectors. The light condition of every sector can be adjusted." SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHA LINGYAN, Competitor from Shanghai Jiaotong University "Ideally,

Panasonic runs indoor vegetable factory in Singapore

Panasonic runs indoor vegetable factory in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Singapore - Panasonic Factory Solutions Asia Pacific Pte's indoor vegetable farm in Singapore, which currently produces 10 types of vegetables such as lettuce, basil and baby spinach under optimized conditions, is seen in this photograph of July 2014.

Biggest plant factory with LED lighting built in quake-hit city

Biggest plant factory with LED lighting built in quake-hit city

TAGAJO, Japan - A worker tends to vegetables at the world's largest plant factory using light-emitting diode lighting in Tagajo, Miyagi Prefecture, on July 2, 2014. Mirai Co., a Tokyo-based company that runs vegetable growing facilities, has built the factory, which is expected to produce 10,000 heads of lettuce and other vegetables per day, in the northeastern Japan city devastated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Biggest plant factory with LED lighting built in quake-hit city

Biggest plant factory with LED lighting built in quake-hit city

TAGAJO, Japan - A worker walks inside the world's largest plant factory using light-emitting diode lighting in Tagajo, Miyagi Prefecture, on July 2, 2014. Mirai Co., a Tokyo-based company that runs vegetable growing facilities, has built the factory, which is expected to produce 10,000 heads of lettuce and other vegetables per day, in the northeastern Japan city devastated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Vegetables harvested at artificially lit factory

Vegetables harvested at artificially lit factory

OSAKA, Japan - Workers harvest lettuce and other vegetables on June 17, 2014, at an agricultural factory using artificial light in Yabu, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan. The factory was built by remodeling a local elementary school gymnasium in a joint project between Orix Real Estate Corp. and the Yabu city government.

Orix chairman shows lettuce at artificially lit factory

Orix chairman shows lettuce at artificially lit factory

OSAKA, Japan - Orix Corp. Chairman Yoshihiko Miyauchi (L) shows lettuce on June 17, 2014, grown at an agricultural factory using artificial light in Yabu, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan. The factory was built by remodeling an elementary school gymnasium in a joint project between Orix Real Estate Corp., an Orix Corp. unit, and the Yabu city government.

Large-scale plant farm in Chiba Pref.

Large-scale plant farm in Chiba Pref.

CHIBA, Japan - Photo shows a large-scale vegetable factory on June 5, 2014 in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture. The thermally insulated factory east of Tokyo can be operated year-round irrespective of weather and is said to be capable of producing up to 10,000 products per day of such leaf vegetables as lettuce and herbs based on hydroponic cultivation by utilizing light-emitting diodes.

Head of large-scale plant farm shows lettuce

Head of large-scale plant farm shows lettuce

CHIBA, Japan - President Shigeharu Shimamura of Mirai Co. holds a bag of lettuce produced at a large-scale plant factory in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, on May 5, 2014.

Lettuce hydroponic culture in Iwate

Lettuce hydroponic culture in Iwate

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan - Lettuce is grown in hydroponic culture in a dome of about 30 meters in diameter in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on July 11, 2012. The operation is subsidized by the state as a project to help the restoration of areas hit by the 2011 quake and tsunami.

Container-like vegetable plant

Container-like vegetable plant

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken March 21, 2012, in Nara, western Japan, shows the exterior of the agri-cube, a container-like facility for growing lettuce and other plants, to be sold beginning April 5 by Daiwa House Industry Co.

Container-like vegetable plant

Container-like vegetable plant

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken March 21, 2012, in Nara, western Japan, shows the inside of the agri-cube, a container-like facility for growing lettuce and other plants, to be sold beginning April 5 by Daiwa House Industry Co.

'Udon hamburger' in the noodle's home

'Udon hamburger' in the noodle's home

TAKAMATSU, Japan - Photo taken Jan. 30, 2011, shows a ''Sanuki Udon Burger'' sold at an expressway service area in Sanuki, Kagawa Prefecture. The burger, using fried Sanuki ''udon'' noodles -- a regional specialty of the western Japan prefecture -- along with a chicken patty, a sunny-side up egg, lettuce and ginger-flavored soy sauce, is priced at 450 yen.

Subway Japan to open lettuce-growing restaurant

Subway Japan to open lettuce-growing restaurant

TOKYO, Japan - People view a Subway restaurant with an indoor lettuce farm (L) in Tokyo's landmark Marunouchi Building on July 5, 2010, the day before the restaurant's official opening. Subway Japan Inc., the operator of the fast food chain, aims to set up two or three restaurants with lettuce farms to attract health-conscious customers.

State-of-the-art veggie lab shown to press at industry ministry

State-of-the-art veggie lab shown to press at industry ministry

TOKYO, Japan - People look at lettuce being grown in a lab in a lobby of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Tokyo on May 26. The lab controls light, temperature and humidity, allowing produce to be harvested throughout the year.

Vegetable prices soar up in unusually cold winter

Vegetable prices soar up in unusually cold winter

TOKYO, Japan - Retail prices of vegetables have soared as Japan has been hit by an unusually cold winter. Photo shows highly priced cabbage and lettuce sold in Tokyo's Minato Ward on Jan. 12.

Imperial family visit farmer in Nagano

Imperial family visit farmer in Nagano

MINAMIMAKI VILLAGE, Japan - Emperor Akihito (C), Empress Michiko (R, back) and their daughter Princess Sayako (R, front) visit a vegetable farmer in Nobeyama, Nagano Prefecture, on Aug. 30 and harvest lettuce.

Japan had cooler summer with less sunshine, more rain

Japan had cooler summer with less sunshine, more rain

SENDAI, Japan - Lettuce and other vegetables carry higher price tags at a Sendai supermarket on Sept. 1 after a spell of cool summer weather. The average summer temperature in the Tohoku region, northeastern Japan, this year was the third lowest since the end of World War II, while most other parts of the country also saw less sunshine and more rain, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

INDONESIA-YOGYAKARTA-HYDROPONIC FARM

INDONESIA-YOGYAKARTA-HYDROPONIC FARM

(220812) -- YOGYAKARTA, Aug. 12, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A worker takes care of lettuce grown at a vegetables hydroponic farm at Kaliurang, Sleman district, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 12, 2022. Hydroponic farming is the practice of growing plants in nutrient solutions without the use of soil. (Photo by Agung Supriyanto/Xinhua)

INDONESIA-YOGYAKARTA-HYDROPONIC FARM

INDONESIA-YOGYAKARTA-HYDROPONIC FARM

(220812) -- YOGYAKARTA, Aug. 12, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A worker takes care of lettuce grown at a vegetables hydroponic farm at Kaliurang, Sleman district, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 12, 2022. Hydroponic farming is the practice of growing plants in nutrient solutions without the use of soil. (Photo by Agung Supriyanto/Xinhua)

INDONESIA-YOGYAKARTA-HYDROPONIC FARM

INDONESIA-YOGYAKARTA-HYDROPONIC FARM

(220812) -- YOGYAKARTA, Aug. 12, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A worker takes care of lettuce grown at a vegetables hydroponic farm at Kaliurang, Sleman district, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 12, 2022. Hydroponic farming is the practice of growing plants in nutrient solutions without the use of soil. (Photo by Agung Supriyanto/Xinhua)

INDONESIA-YOGYAKARTA-HYDROPONIC FARM

INDONESIA-YOGYAKARTA-HYDROPONIC FARM

(220812) -- YOGYAKARTA, Aug. 12, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A worker checks lettuce grown at a vegetables hydroponic farm at Kaliurang, Sleman district, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 12, 2022. Hydroponic farming is the practice of growing plants in nutrient solutions without the use of soil. (Photo by Agung Supriyanto/Xinhua)

INDONESIA-YOGYAKARTA-HYDROPONIC FARM

INDONESIA-YOGYAKARTA-HYDROPONIC FARM

(220812) -- YOGYAKARTA, Aug. 12, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A worker takes care of lettuce grown at a vegetables hydroponic farm at Kaliurang, Sleman district, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 12, 2022. Hydroponic farming is the practice of growing plants in nutrient solutions without the use of soil. (Photo by Agung Supriyanto/Xinhua)

Cuban Olympic champion becomes agricultural entrepreneur

STORY: Cuban Olympic champion becomes agricultural entrepreneur DATELINE: March 12, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:43 LOCATION: Havana CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Dayron Robles in a farmland 2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): DAYRON ROBLES, Cuban Olympic champion 3. various of a bar 4. various of Dayron Robles and his family STORYLINE: Cuban Olympic champion Dayron Robles, who won the men's 110m hurdles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has now become an agricultural entrepreneur. The 35-year-old runs a flourishing organic farm in the Havana district of El Cotorro, where he lives with his wife and two daughters. Robles, who starts his day early in the morning, harvests different crops, including cauliflower, chard, lettuce, tomato and onion. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): DAYRON ROBLES, Cuban Olympic champion "I am not from the country. I am from the city. And I believe that rural life, which I am becoming 100 percent familiar with now, I am still feeling it out. In order to get to know this at a rate of 100 percent,

State-of-the-art veggie lab shown to press at industry ministry

State-of-the-art veggie lab shown to press at industry ministry

TOKYO, Japan - People look at lettuce being grown in a lab in a lobby of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Tokyo on May 26. The lab controls light, temperature and humidity, allowing produce to be harvested throughout the year. (Kyodo)

LED-powered lettuce farm in Fukushima faces high electricity bills

LED-powered lettuce farm in Fukushima faces high electricity bills

The inside of an LED-powered lettuce cultivation farm in Kawauchi, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, is shown on June 4, 2015. The KiMiDoRi farm is saddled with high electricity bills that account for about half the cost of production, although hopes are high for the new agricultural form. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Specialty lettuce used to brew low-malt beverage in Japanese village

Specialty lettuce used to brew low-malt beverage in Japanese village

A bottle of "Vegeale Lettuce," a low-malt "happoshu" beer-like beverage brewed with malt, hops and lettuce produced in the village of Showa, Gunma Prefecture, central Japan, is shown on May 28, 2015. Gunma is the third largest lettuce producer in Japan, most of which comes from the village. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo