China: Shanghai’s vision for the future of horticulture and the greenhouse sector – Hortidaily

Shanghai’s Vision for the Future of Horticulture and the Greenhouse Sector (2024-2035)

Introduction

In the face of accelerating urbanization, climate challenges, and increasing demand for sustainable food systems, Shanghai has laid out a bold and forward-looking strategy to transform its agricultural landscape. At the heart of this transformation lies the Shanghai Modern Facility Agriculture Master Plan (2024–2035), a comprehensive policy blueprint designed to guide the city’s agricultural development through innovation, sustainability, and international collaboration. The plan opens the door for deep collaboration with international leaders in agriculture, and the Netherlands stands out as a priority partner.

Opportunities in Modern Agriculture

Key opportunity areas in modern agriculture encompass a variety of innovative technologies and sustainable practices. These include:

1. Greenhouse automation and climate control systems
2. Water-saving irrigation and fertigation systems
3. Hydroponics, vertical farming, and aquaponics
4. Smart farming software and data platforms
5. High-efficiency seed technologies
6. Waste-to-resource solutions in circular agriculture

Together, these areas represent significant potential for innovation and growth in the agricultural sector.

Collaboration with the Netherlands

Through joint ventures, technical services, or pilot projects, Dutch enterprises can play a leading role in shaping the next generation of Shanghai’s agri-food system—one that is smart, green, and globally connected.

Policy Background and Strategic Context

Since 2023, Shanghai has prioritized modern horticulture as a key component of its urban-rural integration and food security strategy. The Master Plan is complemented by a short-term implementation roadmap, jointly signaling the municipality’s commitment to building a resilient, technologically advanced horticultural system.

The Master Plan envisions the emergence of Shanghai as a national benchmark for modern horticulture, blending high-tech farming with ecological integrity and social inclusivity. The development strategy is guided by the following pillars:

• Scientific and Technological Leadership
• High-Quality Food Security
• Integrated Spatial Development
• Full Industry Chain Innovation
• Global Collaboration

Spatial Structure: A New Agricultural Urbanism

To accommodate the complexity of metropolitan agriculture, Shanghai’s plan introduces a tiered spatial framework called “One Core, Four Wings, Three Circles”. The layout aims to integrate agriculture with protected farmland, green corridors, villages, towns, and leisure spaces—creating productive, ecological, and livable rural-urban interfaces.

“12 + X + 1” System: Building the Backbone

At the core of this Master Plan is the establishment of a “12 + X + 1” spatial system—strategically designed to concentrate resources, scale innovation, and support diverse agricultural functions.

• “12” Modern Horticulture and Greenhouse Zones (totaling 3,600 ha)
• “X” Agri-Tech Innovation Support Zones

Situated on Hengsha Island, the 16,000-hectare Modern Agricultural Industrial Park exemplifies Shanghai’s ecological ambitions. With rice paddies, organic vegetables, and eco-fisheries, it sets the bar for green, circular, and globally aligned agricultural development.

Source: Agroberichten Buitenland

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article discusses the transformation of Shanghai’s agricultural landscape, focusing on innovation, sustainability, and international collaboration. These themes align with several Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Based on the Article’s Content

• SDG 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
• SDG 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
• SDG 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
• SDG 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• SDG 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
• SDG 17.6: Enhance North-South, South-South, and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology, and innovation and enhance knowledge-sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, particularly at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism.

The article’s content suggests targets related to increasing agricultural productivity and incomes, promoting renewable energy, upgrading infrastructure and adopting sustainable technologies, enhancing urbanization and sustainable human settlement planning, reducing food waste, integrating climate change measures, conserving ecosystems, and promoting international cooperation in science, technology, and innovation.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

• Agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers
• Share of renewable energy in the energy mix
• Adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies
• Urbanization and human settlement planning indicators
• Food waste at the retail and consumer levels
• Integration of climate change measures into policies and planning
• Conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems
• International cooperation in science, technology, and innovation

The article mentions or implies indicators such as agricultural productivity and incomes, share of renewable energy, adoption of clean technologies, urbanization indicators, food waste, integration of climate change measures, conservation of ecosystems, and international cooperation in science and technology.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hortidaily.com