On December 9, the “Soil Improvement Carbon Sink Transaction Signing Ceremony for the Zhaomadai Modern Agricultural Demonstration Zone” was held at the Zhaomadai Modern Agricultural Exhibition Center in Hui'an County. This marks the first-ever national soil improvement carbon sink transaction, signaling the awakening of the potential of soil "yellow carbon sinks" and a significant advancement in the development of modern agriculture in Zhaomadai.

　　During his visit to Fujian, President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of strictly protecting arable land and adopting a broader view of agriculture and food, while fostering the development of specialized agricultural industrial clusters.

　　Zhaomadai has long been focused on creating a modern agricultural demonstration zone through a strategic layout of “one corridor, three zones, and multiple nodes,” which integrates agricultural protection with the development of mechanized rice production and agricultural tourism. In 2024, Hui'an County successfully entered the list of national modern agricultural industrial park construction projects, receiving a 70-million-yuan grant from the central government.

　　Land Consolidation and Upgrading

　　Recently, in the Zhaomadai Modern Agricultural Demonstration Zone's Wangchuan Town Zhuangshan area, the green fields stretch endlessly, with workers busy harvesting lettuce. “These lettuces are primarily exported to Southeast Asia, and some are sent to domestic fresh-cut factories, supplying companies like KFC, McDonald's, and Starbucks,” explained Zhuang Xudong, General Manager of Hui’an Shengfeng Agriculture Co., Ltd.

　　Zhaomadai spans a total of 13,253 acres, with the land mainly located in Wangchuan Town and parts of Luocheng and Luoyang towns. It is Fujian Province’s first arable land protection zone and is also a national model for basic farmland protection and modern agricultural demonstration.

　　"Soil Acidification with Mata Soil Conditioner Carbon Sink Project" at Zhaomadai Modern Agricultural Demonstration Zone

　　In the 1990s, Zhaomadai began large-scale land consolidation, integrating fragmented plots and constructing high-standard infrastructure. The introduction of advanced agricultural machinery and high-quality crops allowed for the development of premium agriculture.

　　However, after more than 20 years of development, Zhaomadai faced certain bottlenecks. The land is mainly leased by agricultural enterprises from local villagers and village collectives, which led to inconsistent land lease prices, multi-tiered communication issues, and the abandonment of some agricultural greenhouses. Furthermore, some areas experienced land degradation.

　　In response, Zhaomadai initiated a comprehensive upgrade of high-standard farmland construction. This year, the core demonstration zone began land consolidation under a unified management system, which includes cooperation with the local government, state-owned enterprises, and social forces to streamline land transfer processes.

　　In April, Wangchuan Town signed contracts to transfer 1,034 acres of land from villages like Zhuangshan, Pingpu, and Xudai to Hui'an Wenlv Group. This initiative involves the demolition of old greenhouses, land leveling, and large-scale land circulation. With each acre rented out at 1,050 yuan, the villagers benefit from management fees, which provide additional income.

　　Purple Basil Planting Base of Quanzhou Huimin Agricultural Development Co., Ltd.

　　The Hui'an Wenlv Group invested about 8,000 yuan per acre for soil improvement, modern irrigation systems, and automated technology, with the land then leased to leading agricultural enterprises.

　　Shengfeng Agriculture, one of the first companies to join the demonstration zone, began the construction of integrated water and fertilizer systems, as well as high-standard farmland, in June. By early October, the first batch of crops, including lettuce and broccoli, were planted, reaching an impressive per-acre yield of 20,000 yuan.

　　Technology Empowerment and Increased Output

　　Inside the Zhaomadai Modern Agricultural Demonstration Zone, Quanzhou Huimin Agricultural Comprehensive Development Co., Ltd.’s purple basil farm boasts cutting-edge smart greenhouses. The farm uses "smart agriculture and IoT" systems to monitor various environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration, and soil conditions, thus increasing both the efficiency and quality of production.

　　"We operate the largest purple basil farm in the province, supplying high-end hotels and sushi restaurants. A single basil leaf can sell for up to 0.08 to 0.10 yuan, and local villagers call it ‘golden leaves’," said He Fuzhi, the company’s director.

Beautiful Guankxi Agricultural Park

　　With the introduction of the IoT, Huimin Agricultural Co. has greatly improved both its efficiency and product quality. “Our current yield is 800 kg per acre, with an output value of 70,000 yuan," He added.

　　In 2024, Hui'an County was recognized as a national model for full-scale mechanization in agriculture. The county has promoted automatic irrigation, smart monitoring systems, and even unmanned rice planting machines, advancing both high-standard production bases and the development of specialty agricultural product processing bases.

　　Expanding the Industry Chain and Exploring New Pathways

　　On December 9, Hui'an County also hosted a signing ceremony for a series of soil improvement carbon sink projects in the Zhaomadai area. These projects focus on the "oyster farming—shell utilization—soil improvement—carbon sink trading" model, capitalizing on the county's strong oyster industry, which accounts for over 90% of the local aquaculture output.

　　This soil improvement carbon sink project is a significant step forward in Hui’an’s efforts toward green, sustainable agricultural development, with national recognition of agriculture as a vital green industry.

　　The integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism has also played a vital role in expanding Hui’an’s agricultural industry chain. One such initiative is the Guankxi Agricultural Park, a rural revitalization project that blends tourism with agriculture. The park features a café surrounded by scenic fields, attracting a steady stream of visitors who enjoy coffee while taking in the tranquil rural landscape.

　　As Hui’an continues to develop its modern agricultural core zone, it is planning 22 new projects with a total investment of 2.26 billion yuan, aiming to increase the park's total industrial output value to 5.2 billion yuan over the next three years.