This smart farm in Wuzhen is producing tomatoes that get tender-loving care courtesy of a 5G network

Red, orange, yellow, purple, green … a total of 18 varieties of tomatoes from around the world can be seen in one bright, intelligent glass greenhouse, powered by a 5G network, at the newly-opened Wuzhen International Internet Agriculture Expo Park.

Located in a small town in east China’s Zhejiang province where the World Internet Conference takes place once a year, about 2,800 tomato plants are receiving ‘5-star’ treatment in this special greenhouse.

This includes ideal temperature and humidity settings, customised nutrition fed to the plants through small black pipes and even background music – thanks to sensors linked to a 5G network operated by China Mobile, one of China’s largest telecommunication companies.

Each tomato plant is set in a hydroponic rockwool cube, with a catheter to transport water and nutrients. A variety of sensors monitor temperature, light, water, humidity and fertiliser levels and send that data over the 5G network in real time which allows a control system to adjust settings more accurately to maximise crop yields.

There is also a 5G-linked pest and disease control system in the greenhouse that can kill bugs with ozone spray, Dong Yongze, chief executive of Daoji Agriculture – which has invested in and backed the smart farm – said in an interview with the Post this week.