China Deploys AI and Smart Tech to Modernize Grain Storage

China is rolling out a sweeping modernization of its grain storage infrastructure, deploying artificial intelligence, autonomous robotics, and intelligent climate control systems in a strategic push to enhance national food security. The initiative, documented by CCTV News from frontline operations in Shandong province, marks a transition from pilot projects to large-scale implementation across the country’s vast grain storage network.

From Manual Inspection to AI-Powered Detection

At the Heze Reserve Grain Fangshan Sub-Depot in Shandong, the grain delivery process has been transformed by digital technology. Farmers now use a smart IC card — described as a “digital passport” — to initiate an automated inspection process. A three-meter-long probe extracts 15 samples from a 30-ton truckload, which are then analyzed by a grain intelligent detection system.

“The images on the screen show wheat kernel information collected during inspection. It’s like taking an X-ray at a hospital,” said Huang Yan, a detection team member at the depot. “Every grain of wheat gets its own ‘X-ray.’ Based on this information, through deep algorithms embedded in the system, these wheat kernels are examined and classified.”

The results are striking: inspection time has been cut from 15–20 minutes manually to just 5–8 minutes with the automated system. Huang noted that the application of “new quality productive forces” in the traditional grain industry has “greatly driven the efficiency, fairness, and objectivity of grain intake and warehousing.”

Precision Storage and Climate Control

Once grain passes inspection, it enters warehouses where precision management ensures optimal preservation. Grain surfaces are leveled flat to prevent airflow dead zones — a critical factor in maintaining quality. In winter, grain temperature is reduced to below -5°C using cold storage techniques. In summer, an internal circulation system keeps average grain temperature below 20°C, with fumigation gases circulating throughout for comprehensive pest and mold control.

“A flat grain surface is an important part of grain preservation,” explained Fu Wei, a grain storage custodian at the depot. “It can better prevent airflow dead zones caused by local grain pile height differences.”

Heze has completed 26 standardized grain storage bins with 140,000 tons of new storage capacity, and all state-owned grain depots in the city have completed smart transformation.

National Scale and Strategic Context

The modernization effort extends far beyond Shandong. According to China Daily, China has over 730 million tons of standard warehouse capacity nationwide, of which 220 million tons are equipped for low-temperature storage and more than 55 million tons use controlled-atmosphere technology. The comprehensive grain loss rate during a full storage cycle has been kept under 1% — a world-class benchmark.

This push comes as China’s grain output reaches historic highs. The country harvested a record 714.88 million tons in 2025, marking the second consecutive year above 700 million tons, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Yet despite bumper harvests, China maintains a tight long-term supply-demand balance due to its large population and limited arable land per capita.

The Green Grain Storage Program

At the heart of the modernization is the Green Grain Storage Integration and Demonstration Program, launched in 2025 by the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration (NFSRA). The program began with 30 pilot sites rolling out 18 advanced applicable technologies nationwide. In April 2026, the NFSRA announced 40 additional demonstration sites, as reported by Xinhua, with a target of 100 model granaries by 2027 covering all seven of China’s major ecological zones.

The program rests on five pillars: upgrading warehouse performance, enabling clean and efficient grain handling, deploying intelligent monitoring and early warning systems, applying green pest and mold control, and rigorously evaluating measures against scientific benchmarks.

Technology in Action Across China

At the Renhe Grain Depot in Zhejiang province, a suite of advanced technologies is already operational. Air-supported membrane silos — dome-shaped structures affectionately nicknamed “breathing white chubbies” by staff — use three layers of technology for solar shielding, active cooling, and energy efficiency.

“The secret lies in three layers of technology embedded in the roof, the grain pile and the walls,” said Wang Hongli, chief technician for membrane silo management. “Solar shielding, active cooling and energy efficiency, working together so the grain ‘sleeps in a good house.’”

Before entering storage, every batch of grain passes through an intelligent inspection gate equipped with high-precision detectors. Wang Liangliang, a technician on the grain smart check team, explained that five images are taken of each individual maize kernel from five different angles, ensuring no blind spots in quality inspection. For a standard 100-gram maize sample, the entire scan takes less than 100 seconds.

Grain handling has also been automated. Second-generation “leveling robots” now autonomously flatten grain piles on barges, operating for around eight hours on a single charge — replacing what was once a manual, labor-intensive process.

Implications for Food Security

Zhang Zhongjie, chief researcher at the NFSRA Academy, said that by pursuing “green, intelligent and integrated development, China is building safe, green and smart granaries to ensure that every single grain stays fresh.”

The smart grain storage initiative aligns with multiple national priorities, including the “AI+” Action Plan and the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), which emphasizes agricultural modernization and food security. The State Council’s recently issued agricultural plan, as reported by Xinhua, sets a binding target of increasing comprehensive grain production capacity to approximately 725 million tonnes by 2030.

Yin Huiping, director of the Heze Municipal Development and Reform Commission, summed up the transformation: “Following the journey of a grain of wheat entering the warehouse, we perceive the entire process of the upgrade of the national grain storage. Now, every grain has a ‘digital ID,’ entering smart warehouses and living in good houses, and depot management has achieved a new leap from manual值守 to digital management.”

What to Watch

With 100 model granaries targeted by 2027 and the green storage program expanding annually, China’s grain storage modernization is set to accelerate. Key areas to monitor include the integration of smaller rural facilities into the smart system, the role of private sector innovation, and how China’s storage technology compares with other major grain-producing nations. The success of this initiative could serve as a blueprint for food security strategies worldwide.