Nationwide Smart Grain Warehouses Undergo Major Upgrades

This summer, the construction of smart grain warehouses across China has rapidly accelerated. CCTV has repeatedly spotlighted how technology is reshaping national food reserves. According to recent reports, under the support of the "Two New, Two Heavy" policy, the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration is actively deploying advanced temperature monitoring, pest detection, and remote control systems across its facilities.

The third phase of construction at key bases has already begun, featuring newly planned high-standard storage capacity exceeding 300,000 tons. The goal is to enhance emergency service capacity to over one million tons by 2027, with improvements in precision cooling, traceable quality control, and fast response capabilities.

Inside each warehouse, between 300 and 400 temperature sensing points are now installed, supported by humidity and pest monitoring systems. Once abnormal grain temperature is detected, a three-level warning mechanism is activated. Operators can then quickly respond with targeted ventilation or nitrogen gas adjustments to prevent mold or infestation.

In the Zhengzhou Central Reserve, a 3D "grain status dashboard" displays real-time thermal and humidity distribution, using color-coded alerts to help staff monitor conditions intuitively. This visualized system enables quick, accurate decision-making and eliminates blind spots in manual inspections.

From "People Looking for Problems" to "Problems Finding People"

Instead of relying on periodic manual checks, the smart system autonomously analyzes temperature, pest activity, gas levels, and surface conditions to detect potential risks early. Alerts are sent directly to responsible personnel, building a digital accountability chain and enhancing both safety and grain quality.

Technological Integration and Automation 

Modern smart grain depots integrate IoT, 5G, cloud computing, collective sensing, and digital twin technologies. These enable robotic patrols, automated sampling arms, AI analysis, and remote-controlled ventilation systems. In many facilities, response time to anomalies has been reduced from hours to just minutes.

 

New deployments also feature full automation of intake, quality inspection, sampling, and archiving processes-drastically improving operational efficiency and safety.

 

Policy Support and Nationwide Expansion

On the policy front, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Food Reserves Bureau have issued joint guidelines to promote digital supervision in food purchase and storage. Over 100 central warehouses have already completed smart transformation pilots, and more than 30 provinces have built regional monitoring platforms, achieving full supply chain coverage.

 

According to reports from CCTV, People's Daily, and other outlets, approximately 400 government-owned grain warehouses are currently being upgraded. Cloud-based management systems have enabled centralized control and data access across regions. Nationwide, green storage capacity now exceeds 200 million tons, with plans to build 100 advanced demonstration warehouses by 2028.

China's grain storage system is entering a new era of intelligence. With dense sensor networks, AI-powered early warnings, and real-time control systems, traditional warehouses are becoming "intelligent agents" that ensure safety, traceability, and freshness. Under policy guidance, technological acceleration, and smart management, national grain storage is evolving into a secure, efficient, and green ecosystem.