Who says the Loess Plateau is only about "earthy" traditions? In Pingliang, Gansu, apples double their value through "test-tube seedlings," red cattle become internet sensations with "smart wristbands," and riverbeds transform into "smart greenhouses" yielding winter cucumbers—cutting-edge technology is revitalizing age-old industries, turning the ancient plateau into fertile ground for prosperity.
From apple saplings in Jingning County’s tissue culture labs to electronic monitoring screens in cattle barns in Jingchuan County and smart irrigation systems in Zhuanglang County’s greenhouses, a tech-driven "industrial upgrade race" is sweeping eastern Gansu. This transformation is not only modernizing traditional sectors but also brightening the livelihoods of local communities.
**Apple Industry: From Bottleneck to Breakthrough** "Fruiting in three years and full yield in five? Unthinkable before!" exclaimed Li Jianxiang, an orchardist in Jingning County, as he inspected rows of Red Fuji apple trees. The organic fertilizer bags in his hands bore precise feeding schedules—custom "nutrition plans" designed by agronomists.
The shift began in Jingning’s sterile tissue-culture labs. "Previously, externally sourced saplings had a survival rate below 60%. Now, our virus-free seedlings resist soil fatigue and thrive," explained a technician at the county’s seedling center, the province’s first industrialized育苗base. With an annual output of 2 million saplings, the facility has solved the "seed bottleneck" issue.
Technology is reshaping every step of the apple supply chain. At the Longyuanhong Apple Processing Industrial Park, automated sorting lines grade apples by sugar content and color. Premium fruits fetch HK$120 per dozen in Hong Kong, while lower-grade ones are processed into freeze-dried snacks, vinegar, and 16 other products. "Our 46-million-yuan investment in 132 patented devices processes 20,000 tons annually, tripling the cluster’s value," said Chen Panlong, the company’s GM.
**Cattle Farming: Data-Driven "Smart Ranching"** In Jingchuan County, a technician clicked a mouse to pull up the health stats of Red Bull No. 089: "8.2 kg feed intake, 38.5°C体温, exercise达标." For breeder Wu Yuanjia, such precision is revolutionary. "Before, breeding relied on guesswork with a 60% success rate. Now, frozen semen tech boosts it to 85%," he noted.
The upgrades extend to cattle welfare. Steam-processed corn feed, probiotic-enriched秸秆meals,温水troughs, and even "mood music" ensure stress-free growth. The result? Premium雪花beef supplied to hotpot giant Haidilao at several tons daily.
By Q3 2025, Pingliang’s cattle inventory hit 964,800, with 406,600 slaughtered—a 120,000-head surge since 2020. The industry’s value surpassed ¥18 billion, with the "Pingliang Red Cattle" brand worth ¥22.277 billion.
**Vegetables: Barren Land to Smart Farms** "Fresh cucumbers in winter on the Loess Plateau? A pipe dream before!" marveled villager Chen Xiaoling in Zhuanglang County’s smart greenhouses. The 360-mu facility, built on once-idle riverbeds, now grows "Qingdao Xinhongxian 369" cucumbers year-round.
The secret? East-west collaboration. Partnering with Shouguang, China’s "vegetable capital," brought in Zhongtian Agricultural Technology Co., which installed a "smart管家" system: real-time climate controls, drip irrigation, and pest-resistant粘板. "No more hoeing—just button presses," said town official Jin Guobi.
The phased approach paid off. Phase I’s glass greenhouses earned over ¥2 million from winter harvests, while Phase II’s薄膜greenhouses and cold storage shipped white beans and pumpkins to Shouguang, adding ¥2.4 million in sales. Locals like Chen now earn ¥3,000 monthly—triple their former crop income—prompting migrant workers to return.
**Conclusion** From apples’ "seed revolution" to cattle’s "data breeding" and veggies’ "smart farming," technology is accelerating rural transformation on the Loess Plateau. As Pingliang officials put it, "The plateau is brimming with new hope, and prosperity is blooming."