Big Data Observation | Specialty Agricultural Products Transform into Advantageous Industries

Data Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

This year’s No. 1 Central Document proposed supporting the development of green and efficient planting and breeding, promoting deep processing of agricultural products, cultivating high-quality agricultural brands, and promoting the development of the entire industry chain.

China is the world’s largest food industry country, with an industry scale of about 9.8 trillion yuan; over 450 specialty food production areas, with an industry scale exceeding 2.5 trillion yuan. Many specialty foods originate from specialty agricultural products, coming from vast rural areas. How can rural specialty agricultural products transform into advantageous industries? Reporters conducted investigations.

Xinjiang Tomato: Supporting a Major Industry

At the production workshop of Xiaochu Food Co., Ltd. in Xinjiang Changji City, bottles of tomato juice and tomato seasoning sauce are being packed and shipped; in the online live broadcast room, the host is providing detailed product introductions and answering questions, with increasing order volume. From tomato chunks, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, to tomato juice and tomato pulp… all kinds of products, with raw materials all locally grown high-quality tomatoes from Xinjiang.

Last year, Zhang Yulin, a grower in Xingfu Village, Erli Gongzhen, Changji City, signed an order contract with Xiaochu Company in advance. “All the tomatoes from over 900 acres are ordered by the company, so there’s no worry about selling.” Zhang Yulin calculated: an average yield of 10 tons per acre, at an order price of 0.45 yuan per kilogram, with an output value of 4,500 yuan per acre. “It’s profitable. This year, I will continue to sign orders and grow tomatoes!”

Currently, Xinjiang has developed into an important base for the tomato industry, with planting areas mainly distributed in Changji, Shihezi, Kuitun, Shawan, Wusu, Bole, and other regions, as well as in the Yanqi Basin.

By 2025, Xinjiang’s processed tomato planting area will reach 520k acres, with a yield of 4.8 million tons. The full-process mechanization level will reach 99%, with seeding and harvesting rates both exceeding 98.5%. There are more than 70 processing enterprises, most of which produce large barrels of tomato paste, with a significant increase in small-packaged tomato products and output, forming a complete industry chain of breeding, planting, processing, and sales.

At COFCO Tunhe Changji Tomato Products Co., Ltd., during harvest season, dispatch personnel can use the COFCO tomato information management platform to quickly understand the total amount of tomatoes delivered, transportation vehicles, and the number of harvesters online, minimizing the time from harvest to product processing. The platform can also schedule the most suitable varieties for harvest at the optimal maturity period based on consumer demand for different products. Currently, the company has developed 39 tomato varieties, effectively breaking through breeding bottlenecks, and has established a tomato classroom to provide precise guidance on the entire process of cultivating, planting, managing, and harvesting processed tomatoes, training over 5,000 growers annually.

“Our fully automated production line can process over 8,000 tons of tomato raw materials 24 hours a day,” said Yu Chunshan, Vice President of Xinjiang Tomato Industry Association and General Manager of Xinjiang Xiaochu Food Co., Ltd. By 2025, the company’s tomato product output will reach 110k tons, including 20k tons of tomato paste, directly increasing income for more than 120 tomato processing and planting households.

“Thanks to Xinjiang’s unique natural climate, the sugar content of Xinjiang tomatoes is relatively high. After processing into tomato paste, the lycopene content exceeds 70 mg per gram, far surpassing national standards, making it very popular in the market,” Yu Chunshan said. As consumers pay more attention to nutrition and health, the unique advantages of Xinjiang tomato products have expanded sales markets, with both export and domestic sales performing well.

Fuping Sheep Milk: Exploring New Business Models

At dawn, with a faint mist still lingering, two modern milking stations are operating simultaneously in Yongbei Group, Shuangyang Village, Liuqu Town, Fuping County, Shaanxi Province. Mechanical milking platforms are busy. “Every household in the village raises livestock, and I can earn over 200,000 yuan annually from sheep farming!” said farmer Xiang Bin.

In Caoguan Village, Liuji Town, within the Digital Breeding Base for high-yield dairy goats of Weinan Agricultural Investment, 1,500 Saanen dairy goats imported from Australia wear smart ear tags, chewing on silage. Management staff can view health data in real-time via mobile phones. In the past, raising livestock relied on experience; now, it is moving toward intelligent digital management.

Fuping is the largest dairy goat breeding base in the country, with a sheep stock of 950k and an annual fresh sheep milk production of 261k tons, earning it titles like “Hometown of Dairy Sheep” and “Capital of Sheep Milk.” Shi Guangqiang, Director of the Fuping County Animal Husbandry Development Center, said that Fuping has established the sheep milk industry as a pillar of the local economy. Many farmers have built new houses and bought new cars thanks to the industry, and their lives are improving steadily.

“Sheep milk is rich in protein, amino acids, and minerals, with high nutritional value and easy digestion and absorption,” said Cui Yifei, Director of the Fuping County Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau. To promote industrial upgrading, the county has built a national modern agricultural industrial park, forming a full industry chain for sheep milk, supporting companies like Hongxing Meiling, Jinniu Dairy, and Shengtang Dairy to build milk source bases, conduct breeding of good breeds, expand processing capacity, and develop new products, promoting integrated grass-animal husbandry development.

In Shaanxi Yangyangxiang Dairy’s newly completed production workshop, the liquid sheep milk production line is running smoothly. “We innovate processes to remove the gamey smell while retaining active nutrients. This line can process 100k tons of fresh sheep milk annually, with an expected sales revenue of 1.25 billion yuan,” said Vice General Manager Yang Bing.

In Fuping, sheep milk enterprises actively explore industry innovation. Some have developed their own sheep cheese and sheep whey powder production lines, breaking the dependence on imported sheep whey powder for domestic infant formula; others have opened sheep milk cafes in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, exploring new business models… Today, Fuping’s dairy products have maintained a 100% pass rate in quality inspections for five consecutive years, and 120k people have found employment and increased income through the sheep milk industry, with an average household income increase of 20,000 yuan.

Tibet Mountain Spring: “Good Water” from the Plateau

In Chongga Village, Gongtang Township, Damxung County, Lhasa City, Tibet, amidst snow-capped mountains, a modern “water factory” is operating—famous glacier mineral water is produced here and bottled for nationwide distribution. As the province with the richest freshwater resources in China, Tibet has nearly 5 trillion cubic meters of freshwater, accounting for 16.5% of the national total, and the highest per capita water resources in the country.

Leveraging this natural endowment, Tibet vigorously promotes the “Tibet Good Water” industry, issuing policies such as opinions to accelerate the development of natural drinking water industries, and supporting industry transformation and upgrading through digital and intelligent reforms, attracting supporting enterprises, subsidies for products to go abroad, and more.

In recent years, Tibet’s natural drinking water output has grown over 20% annually, with more than 60 production lines built, designed capacity exceeding 5 million tons, and 56 natural drinking water enterprises approved for food production licenses.

In Nyingchi, a 126-acre “water factory” has been completed and put into operation. High-altitude water from the Nianqing Tanggula Mountain source undergoes water treatment, bottling, and labeling to become bottled water. This factory, operated by Nongfu Spring, has multiple production lines covering natural drinking water, fruit juice drinks, tea drinks, etc., with an annual output of 590k tons. “We have access to high-quality natural water sources, which provide a solid quality guarantee for Nongfu Spring products,” said the company’s responsible person.

To prevent water source pollution, local authorities have designated protected areas, regulated production processes, and enterprises strictly schedule output according to demand. “Protecting the water source more carefully ensures the sustainability of our water,” said Wang Hu, General Manager of 5100 Mineral Water.

The water industry’s growth benefits local residents. Tsering Wangjé, a native of Chongga Village, now works at a local drinking water company. Initially unfamiliar with operating advanced equipment, he learned through multiple training trips supported by the company, gradually mastering various skills, and becoming a production manager.

This mineral water company employs 95% local villagers, helping each household earn nearly 100k yuan annually.

Today, pure “Tibet Good Water” has become a regional specialty food brand. Brands like 5100, Gesang Spring, Tuo Ma Spring, Dazhao Holy Spring, and Ganjin Puoqi are recognized for their high quality. Currently, Tibet’s natural drinking water enterprises not only directly and indirectly create jobs but also benefit surrounding communities through industry poverty alleviation and profit sharing. In the future, Tibet will continue to explore industry potential, making natural drinking water a key industry for rural revitalization and regional prosperity.

Source: People’s Daily