Latest news with #Shouguang
South China Morning Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China strikes new Asean trade deal, Beijing rebukes parcel fees: SCMP daily highlights
Catch up on some of SCMP's biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing China has negotiated an updated free-trade deal with the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), strengthening Beijing's role in the region amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States. China has urged the European Union to provide a 'fair' playing field for businesses after Brussels proposed a handling fee on every small parcel that enters the bloc, most of which come from the country's rapidly expanding e-commerce firms. China's expertise in desert farming will be applied to the United Arab Emirates with the construction of a new agricultural technology centre. Photo: Xinhua Shouguang, a city in eastern China known for its copious vegetable production, is building a 100,000-square-meter centre for smart agriculture in the harsh deserts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to export the country's technological advances in farming.
South China Morning Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China's ‘vegetable capital' to test farming know-how in UAE's harsh deserts
Shouguang, a city in eastern China known for its copious vegetable production, is building a 100,000-square-meter centre for smart agriculture in the harsh deserts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to export the country's technological advances in farming. Leading UAE agritech firm Silal signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group on Monday to co-invest 120 million dirham (US$32.67 million) in the centre to transform desert farming in the Middle Eastern country, state news agency Xinhua reported. The collaboration – part of a global outreach campaign by what is colloquially referred to as China's 'vegetable capital' – is another instance of Beijing exporting agricultural know-how to countries taking part in the Belt and Road Initiative , an infrastructure-driven strategy for regional connectivity. The new facility will make use of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics to enhance the efficiency and precision of seeding, climate control, irrigation and harvesting. It will support the cultivation of over 10 crop varieties, Xinhua said, including tomatoes, cucumbers, melons and strawberries. 'Abu Dhabi, as a frontier for agricultural technology innovation, offers a visionary platform and a real-world test bed for deploying advanced systems in extreme climates,' Yang Ming, founder of the group, was quoted as saying. Silal CEO Saleem al-Ameri said the collaboration would serve as a model for agricultural innovation across the Persian Gulf, contributing to a scalable and sustainable framework for regional development.
The National
19-05-2025
- Business
- The National
China-UAE AgriTech Dh120 million megaproject to launch in Al Ain
A Dh120 million AgriTech hub, measuring 100,000 square metres, has been announced for Al Ain. The project is a collaboration between Silal, an Abu Dhabi-based agri-food and technology company, and Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group (SVG), a Chinese firm specialising in vegetable seed breeding and counter-seasonal production. The signing of the deal was witnessed at the Make it in the Emirates conference in Abu Dhabi by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment. The facility marks a shift to transform the agricultural sector from water-intensive and climate vulnerable to data-driven and climate resilient. It will serve as a test bed for "smart farming" under extreme conditions – a challenge of growing importance. "Our partnership with SVG aims to revolutionise the UAE's AgriTech sector," said Salmeen Alameri, chief executive of Silal. "By combining SVG's world-leading expertise in greenhouse technology with Silal's commitment to innovation and sustainability, we are creating a cutting-edge model for innovative agriculture that can be replicated across the region and beyond." Model to drive AgriTech hub At the heart of the initiative is SVG's "Shouguang Model", a system of greenhouse farming honed in China's Shandong province that will be adapted to the UAE's arid environment. The Al Ain complex will feature photovoltaic glass greenhouses, large-span solar greenhouses and film connected structures – all powered by renewable energy. These advanced greenhouses will house more than a dozen varieties of fruits and vegetables including tomatoes, cucumbers, melons and strawberries, each cultivated with enhanced traits for flavour, resilience and yield. Automated climate control systems, robotic harvesters and precision irrigation will help maximise productivity while minimising inputs – with water and fertiliser use expected to drop by up to 30 per cent. "Abu Dhabi's forward-thinking approach and its willingness to embrace new technologies make it a vital hub for AgriTech innovation." said Ming Yang, founder of SVG. "In addition, the region's unique climate conditions make it a crucial testing ground for new technologies and solutions." The AgriTech complex will also include advanced infrastructure such as water treatment systems, modular purification units, and energy storage solutions. Mushroom production zones, dedicated employee accommodations, and a sensory experience centre will support both operational and educational objectives. Post-harvest infrastructure will play a vital role in delivering high-quality produce to market. The facility will house a fold storage centre, automated sorting lines and logistics systems capable of preparing goods for both domestic consumption and international export. Seeds of change This is not the first tie-up between Silal and SVG. In November 2024, the state news agency Wam reported a partnership in vegetable seed breeding and counter-seasonal vegetable industry chain. This collaboration is aimed at improving production efficiency and strengthening supply capacity for agricultural products in the UAE.
Zawya
19-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber and H.E. Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak witness signing of Silal and China's SVG
Abu Dhabi: His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, witnessed the signing of a strategic partnership between Silal, Abu Dhabi's leading agri-food and technology company, and Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group (SVG), a prominent Chinese company specializing in vegetable seed breeding and counter-seasonal production. The partnership enables SVG to invest over AED 120 million into developing a 100,000㎡ Agritech powerhouse in Al Ain, marking a major milestone for the UAE and regional agriculture sectors. The facility will harness advanced technologies, including AI and robotics to drive precision, boost efficiency, and deliver sustainable, high-impact innovations across the agricultural value chain. The Agritech powerhouse will showcase SVG's advanced "Shouguang Model" of greenhouse technology, which will be adapted and optimized for the unique climate conditions of the UAE. It will feature a range of advanced greenhouse structures, such as intelligent photovoltaic glass greenhouses, thin film-connected greenhouses, and large-span solar greenhouses. The project encompasses a comprehensive ecosystem that includes seedling cultivation as well as post-harvest processing, storage and distribution centers. The entire smart greenhouse system will be powered by solar energy, minimizing the facility's carbon footprint and promoting environmentally responsible agricultural practices. Salmeen Alameri, CEO of Silal said, "Our partnership with Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group aims to revolutionize the UAE's Agritech sector. By combining SVG's world-leading expertise in greenhouse technology with Silal's commitment to innovation and sustainability, we are creating a cutting-edge model for innovative agriculture that can be replicated across the region and beyond. Mr. Ming Yang, Founder of Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group, said:"Abu Dhabi's forward-thinking approach and its willingness to embrace new technologies make it a vital hub for Agritech innovation. In addition, the region's unique climate conditions make it a crucial testing ground for new technologies and solutions. Therefore, our partnership with Silal provides an unparalleled opportunity to refine our advanced technologies." The facility will integrate AI and robotics to optimize every stage of cultivation, enabling precision planting, accelerated harvesting, and greater operational efficiency. Integrated technologies include intelligent climate control, automated irrigation, robotic harvesting, and advanced AI-driven research and development. Over a dozen crop varieties – including tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and strawberries—will be cultivated with enhanced traits for superior taste, resilience, and productivity. Smart resource management will reduce water and fertilizer usage by up to 30%, promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship. The project will be supported by AI labs, technology testing zones, and a sensory experience center, alongside advanced water treatment systems, modular purification units, mushroom production areas, energy storage solutions, and dedicated employee accommodations. Complementing production, a fully equipped post-harvest complex will include cold storage, automated sorting lines, and export-ready logistics to maintain product integrity and ensure seamless distribution to domestic and international markets. About Silal Silal is part of ADQ, one of the region's largest holding companies with a broad portfolio of major enterprises spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabi's diversified economy. Silal was established in September 2020 to diversify sources of food products and stimulate manufactured and agri-food sectors. Silal's mandates include managing procurement programs and strategic stocks of foodstuffs. The company also executes specialised knowledge transfer programs on desert farming techniques and devises research and development projects. For more information, please visit:
