Rural Oasis (Shandong) Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd
The Pitch
Shanghe transformed its agricultural economy into a model for low-carbon rural development. By combining low-carbon farming, clean energy and new employment opportunities, the initiative reduced emissions, created jobs, helped address rural outmigration and strengthened the local economy.
The Problem
Rapid urbanization in China left Shanghe facing persistent outmigration, particularly among young adults, as employment, education and investment opportunities were concentrated in larger cities. Agricultural production also remained energy-intensive, contributing to emissions and slowing the county's transition to a more sustainable economy.
The Process
- Developed a low-carbon agricultural system that combines renewable energy with more sustainable farming practices, creating new economic opportunities while reducing emissions
- Built greenhouses powered by geothermal heat, rooftop solar and waste-heat recovery, replacing coal-based energy and lowering the environmental footprint of agricultural production
- Created flexible employment opportunities in flower sorting, logistics and e-commerce, enabling women, older adults and residents with limited employment options to participate in the local economy
- Introduced circular resource management practices, including wastewater recycling, smart irrigation and resource-efficient greenhouse operations
- Built partnerships among local government, agricultural enterprises, cooperatives, financial institutions and farmers to strengthen the regional agricultural economy
- Established countywide carbon monitoring, agricultural innovation and education platforms to support continued low-carbon development and replication
The Impact
- Created more than 2,300 flexible employment opportunities, training residents in sustainable agriculture
- Attracted hundreds of young professionals back to Shanghe, helping reverse rural outmigration and strengthen the local workforce
- Constructed a 450,000-square-meter intelligent greenhouse cluster supported by renewable energy systems
- Achieved a 95% wastewater resource utilization rate through irrigation recycling and circular water management practices
- Increased household incomes through higher-value agricultural employment, technical training and expanded participation in the floriculture industry
- Established the "Shanghe Model" as a replicable approach to low-carbon rural revitalization, supporting adoption across multiple provinces and county-level governments throughout China
