Asia’s largest strawberry plant factory is set to break ground.

In July next year, residents of Shanghai / Beijing can look forward to enjoying a unique kind of strawberry—one that requires no pesticides, is not limited by the seasons, and whose sweet‑sour balance can even be customized to suit individual tastes.

On October 12, the Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government held a special press conference in Pinggu as part of the “Capital’s Initial Start: The 15th Five-Year Plan” series. At the event, Zhao Wenkan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Pinggu District Party Committee and Executive Deputy District Mayor, revealed that Pinggu will develop into a capital‑wide, all‑scenario model for agricultural and rural modernization, continuously building more technologically advanced smart greenhouses and plant factories.

Notably, Asia’s largest strawberry plant factory is set to begin construction soon. By around July next year, residents will be able to enjoy high‑quality strawberries—bred locally in Pinggu and grown with zero pesticide use throughout the entire process—while ensuring a stable year‑round supply.

Pinggu has long been one of Beijing’s strongest agricultural hubs. According to the press release, during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Pinggu will uphold the principles of ecological development and industry‑driven prosperity, creating an upgraded “Agricultural Zhongguancun 2.0,” establishing itself as a source of new agricultural productivity, and developing into a “World Leisure Valley.” Key initiatives will focus on three major sectors: agricultural technology innovation, modern logistics, and leisure‑culture tourism, driving industrial upgrading across the district.

Plant factories represent an advanced stage in the evolution of facility agriculture and a higher form of agricultural modernization and technological advancement.

By integrating artificial lighting, intelligent environmental control systems, and three‑dimensional soilless cultivation techniques, plant factories precisely replicate optimal growing conditions within enclosed spaces, breaking free from seasonal, land‑use, and climatic constraints to enable continuous production throughout the year. The production process is highly standardized, with clean, controllable environments that significantly reduce pesticide use, transforming traditional field farming into an industrial‑style assembly line. This approach epitomizes the practice of new agricultural productivity.

Besides Asia’s largest strawberry plant factory, Pinggu is simultaneously advancing several other major projects:

- National Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Port: With a planned investment of 24 billion yuan, this project aims to create a new “five‑zone collaborative” university ecosystem, scheduled for completion and commissioning by 2028.

- Largest High‑Efficiency Smart Greenhouse Cluster in North China: Currently under orderly construction.

- Agricultural‑Medical Collaborative Innovation Base and a Multi‑Billion‑Yuan Future Food Pilot Base: Spanning 1,700 mu of land.

- “Agricultural Disneyland”: Linked to the Jinhai Lake area, this initiative plans to integrate agricultural scene exhibitions, hands‑on experiences, and sales channels into a single destination.

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It is worth noting that Metro Line 22 (the Pinggu Line) is nearing completion, and Pinggu is actively developing a premier launch plaza for high‑quality, specialty agricultural products entering Beijing. This means that fresh produce from Pinggu will soon be able to reach central Beijing quickly via subway.

Sources: Beautiful Pinggu and other materials, compiled.