China Launches First Smart Grain Warehouse in Nanjing

China recently rolled out its first smart grain warehouse with multifaceted capabilities to facilitate production, stockpiling and scientific research in Nanjing, the capital of southeastern Jiangsu province.

The warehouse operates with the support of applied sciences and big data analysis to form a modern information system dedicated to facilitating potential grain transactions and expanding high-tech applications. It will set a standard in developing national grain production and preservation by utilizing systematic digital technologies and scientific achievements.

The warehouse's 11 storage rooms, which belong to Nanjing Lingshan Grain Inventory Co Ltd, function under a synthesized monitoring system consisting of wireless sensory facilities that can show indexes of internal conditions, such as air quality, pest invasions, indoor humidity and temperature alterations. By evaluating changes within the warehouse, the equipment being launched guarantees the safe preservation of grains.

The warehouse project was part of a platform dubbed "the Silicon Valley of Jiangsu Grains" that was jointly established by the College of Information Engineering at Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Jiangsu Grain and Edible Oil Transaction Market and the Quality Monitoring Department of Grain and Edible Oil of the Jiangsu Provincial Food and Strategic Reserves Administration. Along with taking on research projects for industries at provincial and national levels, the platform has benefited 8,800 agricultural cooperatives with key technologies applied for digitalized stockpiling practices. By renovating 552 granaries, the platform has produced a direct economic gain estimated at 246 million yuan ($35.97 million), with the loss of stockpiling dropping to less than 1%, the storable rate soaring to 98% and the use of chemical agents dropping by 80%.