China Agricultural University joins Pinduoduo to co-organize 2021 Smart Agriculture Competition

Rhea-AI Summary

Pinduoduo (NASDAQ: PDD) partners with China Agricultural University to co-organize the second annual Smart Agriculture Competition, promoting innovation in agriculture through algorithms and agronomy. The competition focuses on developing cost-effective technology to enhance farmers’ productivity sustainably. This year's challenge involves cultivating tomatoes, with judges evaluating yield, cost-effectiveness, nutritional profile, and environmental sustainability. The inaugural competition showcased impressive results, with technology teams producing 196% more strawberries than traditional methods.

Positive

• Collaboration with China Agricultural University enhances Pinduoduo's innovation in agriculture.
• Successful inaugural competition demonstrated substantial productivity increases (196% more strawberries).
• Focus on sustainability and nutrition aligns with global agricultural trends.

Negative

• None.

SHANGHAI, China, Aug. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- China Agricultural University will join Pinduoduo (NASDAQ: PDD) as a co-organizer of the Smart Agriculture Competition, a unique contest that aims to foster interdisciplinary innovation by marrying algorithms and agronomy.

The Smart Agriculture Competition, which is being held for a second year, aims to promote the development of cost-effective technology that can help farmers to increase their productivity and improve their livelihoods in an environmentally sustainable manner. This year, the contest will draw teams from around the world to cultivate tomatoes using a combination of agronomic knowledge, algorithmic modeling, and precision automation.

“The Smart Agriculture Competition plays a unique role in that it aims to foster innovation that is usable by smallholder farmers, who produce around 80% of the food in China,” said Wang Hongqing, Professor of the School of Horticulture at China Agricultural University, who will be a member of the competition’s judging panel. “It is an important platform for the different stakeholders in the agri-food ecosystem to come together to develop practical, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable solutions for working farms.”

As China’s largest agriculture platform, Pinduoduo spearheaded the creation of the Smart Agriculture Competition as a way to gather the top minds in agronomy and computer science to develop technology that can improve agriculture and build a more resilient food system. The competition is advised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Wageningen University & Research. Leading institutes including the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the National Plateau Yunguo Industrial Park are also lending their support.

Last year, in the inaugural Smart Agriculture Competition, teams of data scientists were pitted against traditional farmers to grow strawberries. The technology teams produced 196% more strawberries by weight on average compared with traditional farmers, and outperformed in terms of the profitability of the investment.

In this year’s competition, judges will be evaluating the teams not only on yield and cost-effectiveness but also on the nutritional profile of the tomatoes and the environmental sustainability of their approach. This is in recognition of the important role that agriculture plays in the health of the population and its impact on the environment.

“Through the Smart Agriculture Competition, we hope to interest more young scientific talent in agriculture so that they can apply their talents to helping farmers,” said Andre Zhu, Senior Vice President of Global Affairs at Pinduoduo. “Helping farmers to grow better ensures not just the people to eat better but also has a direct positive impact on the environment.”

About Pinduoduo Inc.

Pinduoduo is a mobile-only marketplace that connects millions of agricultural producers with consumers across China. Pinduoduo aims to bring more businesses and people into the digital economy so that local communities can benefit from the increased productivity and convenience through new market opportunities.

For more information on Pinduoduo news and industry trends, please visit the content hub at https://stories.pinduoduo-global.com.

For media inquiries, please contact internationalmedia@pinduoduo.com

FAQ

What is the Smart Agriculture Competition organized by Pinduoduo and China Agricultural University?

The Smart Agriculture Competition is an initiative aimed at fostering innovation in agriculture by combining algorithms and agronomy to develop sustainable farming technologies.

What are the goals of this year's Smart Agriculture Competition?

This year's competition aims to cultivate tomatoes while evaluating yield, cost-effectiveness, nutritional value, and environmental sustainability.

How did technology teams perform in last year's Smart Agriculture Competition?

Last year's competition saw technology teams producing 196% more strawberries by weight compared to traditional farming methods.

What stakeholders are involved in the Smart Agriculture Competition?

The competition involves various stakeholders, including agricultural producers, universities, and organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Why is the Smart Agriculture Competition important for smallholder farmers?

The competition aims to develop practical solutions that help smallholder farmers increase productivity, thereby improving their livelihoods sustainably.