Recently, the Middle East project team of Siwei Ecological Technology Co., Ltd. in Hangzhou High-tech Zone (Binjiang) has been intensively advancing its cooperation with Saudi Arabia's MOWREQ company. On May 13, the two parties signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Beijing, aiming to promote the application of "Hangzhou-made" AI plant factory integrated solutions in the Middle East.
Inside the Siwei Ecological Digital Agriculture Industrial Park, reporters observed LED light strips providing uniform illumination for crops between planting racks, while drones performed intelligent inspection tasks from the air. According to Li Shuzhan, an engineer at the company, the plant factory utilizes a self-developed LED lighting control system that dynamically adjusts the duration and spectral combination of light according to the crop's growth cycle. This system uses AI algorithms to customize the light "recipe," optimizing the photosynthetic environment for crops. The accompanying inspection system collects real-time growth data from crops such as strawberries to determine harvesting timing, improving product quality and management efficiency.
According to Hua Guichao, Chairman of Siwei Ecology, the company provides integrated construction solutions covering vertical planting, IoT, and plant nutrition, achieving refined management and resource efficiency optimization in crop cultivation through AI and automation technologies. For example, in lettuce cultivation, intelligent control can increase yield per unit area by 50 to 100 times compared to traditional open-field planting, while reducing irrigation water consumption by approximately 95%.
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Siwei Ecology has been gradually expanding into overseas markets in recent years. In 2024, its self-cultivated strawberries entered high-end supermarket chains in the UAE and received a positive market response. In May of this year, representatives from Saudi Arabia's MOWREQ company visited the Hangzhou factory, expressing interest in the intelligent system of the plant factory and indicating their intention to introduce the technology. According to Hua Guichao's analysis, Saudi Arabia faces challenges such as water scarcity and desertification in its agricultural development, while plant factories can achieve intensive production in a relatively closed environment; the abundant and relatively inexpensive local energy resources also contribute to stable operation, while market demand for high-quality agricultural products also provides support. Previously, Siwei Ecology had experience in implementing plant factories in arid regions of western China, providing technological accumulation for its expansion into the Middle East market.
Next, both parties will use the Saudi project as a starting point to expand their business in the Middle East market. The cooperation will cover the hardware construction of plant factories and talent training, helping to develop a modern agricultural technology system in the region and promoting the transformation of regional agriculture towards efficiency and intelligence. (Source: Hangzhou Daily)
