On the road to building a strong agricultural country, the development of greenhouse horticulture has become an inevitable choice and an important starting point. However, compared with the advanced level in the world, there is still a large gap. Therefore, there is an urgent need to speed up the upgrading of modern greenhouse horticulture, improve the level of intensification, standardization, mechanization, greening and digitalization, and explore a path to agricultural power that suits China’s national conditions. To promote agricultural modernization, it is imperative to build a good platform to help the industry make efforts right to the point. In order to link multiple resources and empower the industry, China Greenhouse Horticulture Industry Conference 2023 (referred to as "2023China Greenhouse ") was held in the Grand New Century Hotel Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province from November 15th to 18th. The conference was guided by the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center. It is jointly co-organized by the China Protected Horticulture Technology & Industry Innovation Alliance, Richland Sources and Zhejiang Agricultural Society and Zhejiang Agricultural Machinery Society.
With the theme of "Enlightenment and Boosting Year", the conference focuses on the experience and ideas of developing facility horticulture, modern greenhouse vegetable production technology and management, greenhouse equipment and technology, intelligent greenhouse horticulture, industrialized agriculture technology, efficient production of high value-added plants, substrate cultivation to increase production, plant factories and other forward-looking scientific research results. It brings new agricultural intelligence to industry insiders, deeply integrates the superior resources of the industry chain, and creates a platform and space for industrial concept innovation, technological innovation, and business model upgrades. A four-day diversified schedule, including "professional theme forums", "on-site exhibitions of new products and new technologies", "multiple business networking activities", "greenhouse tours in Zhejiang", and "annual innovation awards" with 500 participating companies and industry organizations, integrated the new track of digital agriculture and demonstrated the resilience and vitality of high industrialization.
The conference is a top-notch feast where innovative achievements support agricultural modernization. New products and new technology displays presented in three forms enable participants to fully understand agricultural scientific and technological achievements. Entering the exhibition area, 47 high-quality enterprises were all on display. The booths of key enterprises outlined the industry image of new products and new technologies. 24 poster displays showcase various innovative results through pictures and texts, allowing participants to understand the research results and the advantages and potential of modern agriculture within a few minutes. Six enterprise innovation award projects have outstanding achievements and stand out among many results, namely "Jiaxing Jiabei Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Huanong Agricultural Engineering Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Kingpeng Global Technology Co., Ltd., Xingcheng Xifeng Technology Industrial Co., Ltd. Company, Qingdao Gengyun Technology Co., Ltd., and New Green (Zhejiang) Ecological Technology Co., Ltd."
Academicians delivered the keynote speeches to lead the development of smart agriculture. Special guests include Li Tianlai, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chairman of the China Protected Horticulture Technology & Industry Innovation Alliance, Yu Jingquan, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, An Xiaoning, deputy director and researcher of the Finance Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Zhou Zeyu, Director of the Horticulture Crop Technology Division and Extension Researcher of the National Agricultural Technology Center, led a wonderful report, deeply analyzing the opportunities, challenges and tasks facing accelerating the development of the industry. Well-known international experts, scholars and local representatives in various fields of government, industry, academia and research shared and exchanged views on modern greenhouse vegetable production technology and management, greenhouse equipment and technology, the development of intelligent horticulture, and efficient production of high value-added plants in nearly 50 forums.
Digital rural construction is an important part of rural revitalization in Zhejiang Province. At the conference, typical projects of small berries and vegetables and agricultural parks were showcased, allowing participants to experience the results of digital agriculture. The Yangtze River Delta region has always been a showcase for advanced agriculture. Digital smart agriculture projects include Hangzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences Zhijiang Scientific Research Base, Zhejiang Chuanhua Rural Development Co., Ltd.'s Xiaoshan Base, Tongxiang City's Digital Seedling Future Farm, Jiaxing Jiabei Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. and other first-class innovation bases in digital intelligence agriculture allow visitors to appreciate Hangzhou’s advantageous and characteristic agriculture.
Networking activities such as the "Innovation Award Ceremony and Networking Party" and "Ladies' Night Salon" allowed participants to get to know more like-minded people, expand their circle of friends, establish more cooperative relationships, and jointly promote the development of the greenhouse industry. The "2023 China Greenhouse Horticulture Industry Annual Innovation Award" ceremony was one of the highlights, awarding 6 outstanding projects and commending individuals and teams that have made outstanding achievements in the field.