Young engineers bring tech to the soil

At just 32 years old, Duan Yanyan has already worked in the agricultural industry for a decade. With a background in hardware development, he could have pursued a stable career in Beijing. But instead, he chose to bring his skills to Laoting county, Hebei province — a region marked by its vast saline-alkali land.

"Working in an office and focusing solely on theory can feel disconnected from reality," Duan said. "By being in the field myself, I can operate the machinery, identify issues, and make improvements firsthand."

In 2023, Duan joined the Laoting Agricultural Investment and Development Group Co Ltd as a hardware engineer, leading research and development of automated systems for the agricultural park.

Working with four teammates, Duan helped transform over 1,500 mu (100 hectares) of low-yield saline-alkali land into more than 10,000 mu, achieving a yield of 700 kilograms per unit.

A major factor in their success has been the adoption of modern technologies such as the Internet of Things, automated machinery, and data analytics. These tools have significantly improved soil remediation and farming efficiency.

"Farmers can now monitor soil moisture and pest threats via smartphone apps, and regulate the water level of paddy fields through a water level monitoring system and automatic valves," Duan explained. "This shift from purely experiential farming increases accuracy, reduces fertilizer overuse, and boosts yields."

With smart equipment and remote control, the team has also reduced dependence on manual labor. "Labor is one of the biggest costs in agriculture," he said. "Unmanned equipment helps lower that burden."

Green innovation

But the team's ambitions go beyond economics. They've integrated rice farming with aquaculture, a strategy that improves land quality while remaining environmentally sustainable.

Team leader Wei Mingzhao explained how river crabs and crayfish are raised in the paddy fields. "Unlike traditional rice paddies, which cycle water once, we refresh it three to four times a month. The frequent flushing helps move salts deeper into the soil, reducing surface salinity," he said.

To further optimize yields, the team collaborates with agricultural research institutes, testing and introducing new crop varieties.

"Local farmers are often skeptical about unfamiliar seeds," Duan admitted. "So, we show them the data — yield, salt resistance, pest resistance — after every harvest."

This evidence-based approach has helped earn the farmers' trust. In recent years, the team has also established a social service company to assist farmers with mechanized farming and provide advanced technical support.

"We're in the fields almost every day," Wei said. "Sometimes, we don't go home for a month. Everyone just wants to manage the land better and grow more grain."

Sun Zhichao, a local expert in agricultural resource management, echoed the importance of applying and adapting textbook knowledge in real-world conditions.

"For instance, saline-alkali land requires careful water control. The textbook might say 'reduce excess water', but in practice, figuring out the timing and volume is far more complex," he said.

This hands-on learning has led to the development of replicable models. Duan's team has upgraded aquaculture systems to include water temperature monitoring and automated water exchange, aligning them with rice growth cycles.

"By designing seasonal plans and building crop models, we can refine our methods continuously," Duan said.

Looking to the future, the team aims to further optimize their smart agriculture models by incorporating AI and expert recommendations.

"Our goal is to make smart agriculture accessible and replicable so that even those without a farming background can achieve the same results," said Duan. "We want to contribute to the advancement of agriculture in China and help more farmers benefit from these technologies."