In recent years, Changle town in Nantong's Haimen district has been blending modern and urban agriculture to create innovative solutions, including the A Plus Greenhouse—a new model of intelligent farming.

The A Plus Greenhouse, covering approximately 6 hectares, is a high-standard, multi-span smart greenhouse developed to meet international benchmarks while adapting to China’s climate conditions. It features six functional zones, including an ecological education area, aquaponics demonstration zone, and water-and-fertilizer integration area.

In the 2,592-square-meter aquaponics demonstration area, only two workers are needed to transplant vegetables and harvest them later. The entire growth process is fully automated. With controlled seedling cultivation, leafy greens can be harvested in just 30 days, significantly reducing the amount of labor required. Compared to traditional manual planting methods, smart technology boosts efficiency by more than threefold.

The greenhouse is not only "smart" but also "green". Its aquaponics system utilizes a sustainable cycle: fish waste is collected and processed before being transported through underground pipes to nourish vegetable roots. All of this is managed remotely via a centralized control system.

According to project manager Li Zhijun, by 2025, the A Plus Greenhouse is expected to host 30,000 to 50,000 participants in educational and research activities, establishing itself as a key base for smart agriculture training and education.

The A Plus Greenhouse only requires a small number of workers. [Photo/Nantong Daily]