Strawberries grow on multi-layer racks at an AI-powered plant factory in Fuyang, Hangzhou. [Photo/WeChat account: hzfm918]

Strawberries are growing year-round without soil or pesticides at an AI-powered vertical farm in Fuyang district, Hangzhou, where algorithms control everything from temperature and humidity to lighting and nutrients.

Developed by Hangzhou-based 4D Bios, the "AI plant factory" uses agricultural data and AI models to optimize growing conditions. The company says its system can cut water use by 98 percent, shorten growing cycles by 30 percent to 50 percent, and increase output per unit area by 50 to 100 times compared with conventional farming.

Beyond strawberries, the facilities grow lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and even medicinal plants such as ginseng.

The technology is also expanding overseas. 4D Bios has partnered with Saudi company MOWREQ to develop plant factories in desert regions, while another project is being rolled out in Canada, where harsh winters limit conventional agriculture.

The company's operations are deeply rooted in Hangzhou: its Binjiang headquarters handles R&D, algorithms and global operations, its Fuyang facility tests cultivation technologies, and core equipment is manufactured in Tonglu. Engineers in Hangzhou can also remotely monitor and optimize plant factories around the world.

An AI-powered vertical farm in Hangzhou uses algorithms to precisely control lighting, temperature, humidity and nutrients. [Photo/WeChat account: hzfm918]