By Zhao Yu

Hengkantou Village in Lianglong Town, Yuyao, Ningbo, has been selected as a "Science, Innovation, and Digital Village" under the Villages Recognition Initiative, a new global initiative launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), becoming one of the latest internationally-acclaimed examples of China's successful rural development innovation.

Aligned with FAO's vision of Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life – leaving no one behind, the initiative recognizes villages that embody resilience, innovation, and cultural heritage. These villages will be incorporated into the Food and Agriculture Museum and Network (MuNe), a global platform designed to showcase rural development models and share best practices.

In Hengkantou Village, local development has centered on a digitally enabled agricultural system, where the Internet of Things empowers industrial coordination and cooperative farming. The cultivation, packaging, and distribution of key crops such as cherries and tomatoes are digitally tracked from start to finish. The village reports that "farm-to-table" delivery can be completed in as little as three hours, with annual online sales of specialty agricultural products exceeding 28 million yuan.

The village has also implemented full 5G coverage and introduced a range of smart applications, including drone-based field monitoring, digital household address systems and mobile payment services. Public services such as remote medical consultations and online education have also been extended to residents.

Officials say Hengkantou has developed a model that combines smart agriculture, digital governance and rural tourism, reshaping traditional village development through technology integration.

A spokesperson for the Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said the selection reflects the outcomes of Ningbo's efforts under Zhejiang's rural revitalization initiative and highlights the diversity of local development approaches.

The recognition is expected to raise the international profile of Ningbo's rural development practices and provide a platform for sharing its experience in agricultural modernization and digital transformation.