China: Shanghai’s Vision for the Future of Horticulture and the Greenhouse sector (2024–2035)

Nieuwsbericht | 25-04-2025 | 07:45

Shanghai’s vision for the future of horticulture brings opportunities for Dutch Horticultural Enterprises

The plan opens the door for deep collaboration with international leaders in agriculture—and the Netherlands stands out as a priority partner. With over 3,600 hectares designated for high-end facility farming, plus research parks, demo farms, and policy incentives, this is an ideal environment to localize and scale up with Dutch technologies.

Key opportunity areas include:

• Greenhouse automation and climate control
• Water-saving irrigation and fertigation systems
• Hydroponics, vertical farming, and aquaponics
• Smart farming software and data platforms
• High-efficiency seed technologies
• Waste-to-resource solutions in circular agriculture

Through joint ventures, technical services, or pilot projects, Dutch enterprises can play a leading role in shaping the next generation of Shanghai’s agri-food system—one that is smart, green, and globally connected.

For the Netherlands—globally renowned for its advanced horticulture solutions and agri-tech prowess—the Master Plan presents an open invitation to engage, invest, and co-create within one of China’s most dynamic urban regions.

Policy Background and Strategic Context

Since 2023, Shanghai has prioritized modern horticulture as a key component of its urban-rural integration and food security strategy. The Master Plan is complemented by a short-term implementation roadmap, jointly signaling the municipality’s commitment to building a resilient, technologically advanced horticultural system.

Framed within China’s broader rural revitalization agenda and the Yangtze River Delta integration strategy, this plan positions Shanghai as a pioneer in reimagining agriculture within a mega-city context—where farmland, research, innovation, and communities co-exist and co-evolve.

Planning Vision: From Farmland to Innovation Engine

The Master Plan envisions the emergence of Shanghai as a national benchmark for modern horticulture, blending high-tech farming with ecological integrity and social inclusivity. The development strategy is guided by the following pillars:

• Scientific and Technological Leadership: Harnessing Shanghai’s strengths in R&D, talent, and capital to drive breakthroughs in seed technology, smart farming systems, and ecological agriculture.
• High-Quality Food Security: Strengthening the city’s capacity for steady, efficient, and clean agricultural production.
• Integrated Spatial Development: Designing multifunctional zones that merge agricultural production with innovation, recreation, and public services.
• Full Industry Chain Innovation: From upstream breeding and research to downstream logistics and retail, the plan seeks to optimize the entire agricultural value chain.
• Global Collaboration: Building testbeds and business platforms that are open to international enterprises, especially those bringing proven technologies and scalable solutions.

Scope and Timeline

Geographic coverage: Entire Shanghai municipal territory

• Timeframe: 2024 to 2035
• Three-phase implementation:
  • 2024–2025: Planning and design benchmarking against international best practices
  • 2025–2027: Construction of innovation hubs and pilot zones
  • 2027–2035: Full deployment and industry scaling

Spatial Structure: A New Agricultural Urbanism

To accommodate the complexity of metropolitan agriculture, Shanghai’s plan introduces a tiered spatial framework:

“One Core, Four Wings, Three Circles”

• One Core: The central innovation hub in Shanghai’s urban districts
• Four Wings: Coordinated agri-development clusters in the east, west, south, and north, reflecting local landscapes and cultural identities
• Three Circles:
  • Inner circle: Urban fringe zones around central Shanghai
  • Middle circle: Suburban and satellite towns
  • Outer circle: Rural districts and regional integration zones

This layout aims to integrate agriculture with protected farmland, green corridors, villages, towns, and leisure spaces—creating productive, ecological, and livable rural-urban interfaces.

“12 + X + 1” System: Building the Backbone

At the core of this Master Plan is the establishment of a "12 + X + 1" spatial system—strategically designed to concentrate resources, scale innovation, and support diverse agricultural functions.

“12” Modern Horticulture and Greenhouse Zones (totaling 3,600 ha)

These zones are designed as demonstration sites for smart, sustainable, and specialized production. Each focuses on key crops and technologies—from digital vegetable factories to low-carbon mushroom farms and circular aquaponics systems. 

“X” Agri-Tech Innovation Support Zones

To power these agricultural districts, Shanghai is building high-capacity research and innovation clusters. Key examples include:

• Zhangjiang Seed Valley (Pudong): A world-class hub for plant breeding and biotech, fusing agri-innovation with the "medicine + food" health paradigm
• Fengxian Agri-Tech Valley: Supported by Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, this zone focuses on seed development, protected horticulture, and agri-branding
• Yangtze Delta Agri Silicon Valley (Chongming): A joint effort by leading universities and institutes, investing in agri-machinery, smart breeding, and aquaculture systems

These support spaces serve as incubators for high-tech agri-enterprises and offer tailored facilities for researchers, start-ups, and global companies.

“1” Future Agriculture Experimental Zone

Situated on Hengsha Island, the 16,000-hectare Modern Agricultural Industrial Park exemplifies Shanghai’s ecological ambitions. With rice paddies, organic vegetables, and eco-fisheries, it sets the bar for green, circular, and globally aligned agricultural development.

Get access to the full Shanghai Modern Facility Agriculture Master Plan here.

More information

For more information, you can reach out to the Netherlands Agricultural Network team in China (PEK-LVVN@minbuza.nl).