Agricultural technologies ‘key to build industrial ecosystem in Yunnan’

This Dec 10, 2021 aerial photo shows the scenery of a wetland in Panlong District in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (HU CHAO / XINHUA)

A symposium to promote rural revitalization and carbon reduction projects in Yunnan province attracted leading digital economy enterprises on Monday.  

Participants including Huawei Technologies Co, China Electronics Corp and China Resources Group discussed the application of the internet of things, blockchain and other digital technologies in the revitalization of rural industries and the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality initiatives in the province. 

During the symposium, held at Beijing Zhongguancun Internet Finance Institute, Yunnan Zhonglian highlighted the projects in key areas, such as ecological improvement, industrial upgrading, social governance, and talent training. 

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It analyzed the digital transformation and upgrading of plateau agriculture and handicraft industry, culture and tourism, ecological protection of nine plateau lakes, rural social governance and public services and education. 

While discussing promotion of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality via digital technology, the participants agreed that development of reserve forests offers good opportunities in this regard

Considering the significance of industrial revitalization for projects on green and high-quality development, it has identified application of digital and modern agricultural technologies as key tools to help promote brand upgrading of industries in Yunnan and to build an industrial ecosystem. 

While discussing promotion of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality via digital technology, the participants agreed that development of reserve forests offers good opportunities in this regard. 

Financial institutions such as China Development Bank and Agricultural Development Bank of China have offered progressive policies such as 30-year plus long-term loans to support such projects. 

Yunnan Zhonglian briefed the participants about forestry in the Yunnan province, which is known for its plateau-specific agricultural products with a total output value of nearly 600 billion yuan in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery. Its forest coverage rate is 65 percent. 

Experts from the Beijing Forestry University, AEX, Qingyun Technology, and Oasis International discussed national forestry policies, energy management and forest carbon trading. 

Jeff Huang, who earlier worked at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, pointed out the issues of certification and standard as challenges for forest carbon trading.  

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China is still in the stage of infancy in the establishment of an indicator system for forest carbon sink accounting. In the future, forest carbon trading is set to confront international competition.  

“China must establish its own standards for indicator systems. During the transition period, international cooperation can be fully promoted,” he said.