In Jinan, farming is no longer synonymous with back-breaking labor under the scorching sun. Instead, fields are increasingly managed by sensors, cloud platforms, and intelligent irrigation systems. The city is emerging as a national leader in digital agriculture and agri-tourism integration, redefining the future of farming and rural development.
At the 10,000-mu Grain Production and Loss Reduction Demonstration Zone in Jinan’s Pilot Area, more than 500 underground sensors transmit real-time data on soil moisture, nutrients, and oxygen levels. This information flows into a cloud-based platform, where just two technicians can oversee precision irrigation and fertilization across vast farmlands. The results are striking: grain yields have increased by 15%, labor demand has dropped by 90%, and water use has fallen by 58%. Farmers now earn an additional 300 yuan per mu annually.
“Data has replaced experience, and smartphones have replaced hoes,” local officials noted, describing it as nothing less than a systemic transformation of agricultural production.
Jinan’s innovation extends beyond grain. In Laiwu District, smart management of the ginger industry—covering 100,000 mu—has cut water use by 60% and fertilizer use by 40%, while boosting yields by 40% to 7,600 jin per mu. Meanwhile, Zhangqiu District’s scallion industry has reached an annual output of 600 million kilograms with a brand value exceeding 5.29 billion yuan, turning a once-seasonal product into a year-round commodity through supply chain upgrades.
The city is also pushing industrial integration, linking agriculture with processing, logistics, R&D, and tourism. New products such as scallion oil capsules, ginger-based health goods, and rose-derived cosmetics are expanding the value chain. In Dawangzhuang’s ginger industrial park, daily shipments of 70,000–80,000 jin generate about 300,000 yuan in sales, with distribution reaching cities such as Shanghai and Zhengzhou.
At the same time, Jinan is investing heavily in human capital. As part of a national pilot program, the city has trained more than 27,000 “new farmers” in areas like smart agriculture, e-commerce livestreaming, and brand marketing. Young entrepreneurs and returnee students are creating agribusiness ventures that not only modernize production but also generate new rural jobs.
Fruit cultivation has become another driver of growth. With 1.14 million mu of economic forests producing 736,000 tons annually, Jinan has developed six major fruit-producing zones featuring cherries, peaches, apples, walnuts, chestnuts, and Sichuan pepper. The city now holds 13 geographical indication products, 129 registered trademarks, and 148 organic and green certifications. The newly launched “Spring City Fruits” (泉果飘香) regional brand is consolidating small orchards under a unified marketing banner, creating stronger market recognition.
To support agri-tourism, Jinan has introduced a smart fruit service system that integrates orchard information, seasonal guides, and navigation functions into the “Love Shandong · Quanchengban” app. Citizens and visitors can now access real-time data on 130 fruit-picking parks, with one-click directions and booking. The initiative has already driven 70 festivals and over 90 themed events, attracting 700,000 visitors and generating 8.1 billion yuan in associated tourism revenue.
These advances were highlighted at the 2025 Digital Agriculture Technology Conference held in Jinan’s Laiwu District, where academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and experts from the Ministry of Agriculture stressed the importance of big data, AI, and IoT in shaping future farming models.
From reducing costs and boosting yields to branding local produce and linking agriculture with tourism, Jinan is rapidly becoming a model for smart, sustainable, and profitable rural revitalization. The city’s efforts demonstrate how digital agriculture and cultural tourism can work hand in hand—turning “small orchards” into “big industries” and reshaping public perceptions of farming.