High-tech vegetable factory ensures healthy dietary for astronauts in space

A high-tech vegetable factory at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China is producing fresh food to ensure the healthy dietary and well-being of China's astronauts during their space mission.

The China Manned Space Agency announced on Tuesday that the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 04:27 Wednesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, with three Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze on board.

To ensure the astronauts to taste fresh vegetables during their six-month stay in space, researchers and scientists established a vegetable factory in 2021 at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the iconic hub of China's space exploration.

Despite no soil or sunlight, vegetables are thriving inside the factory thanks to a sophisticated hybridity of technologies.

"There are four major systems working together here, namely artificial lighting, nutrient solution, cultivation and environment and temperature control. The artificial lighting system mimics sunlight, while the nutrient solution system replaces the traditional soil and substrate. The factory takes up a smaller space, but its output is relatively high," said Yuan Bin, a staff member of the vegetable factory.

Resembling a space-age garden, the vegetable factory features a sterile environment that ensures the safety of the food produced inside.

"No pesticides or fertilizers are used throughout the entire vegetable growth process, and there are no pests or diseases. This guarantees the absolute safety of [the astronauts'] food. Once the astronauts arrive, we will harvest the vegetables on-site to ensure they receive the freshest produce possible," Yuan said.

A variety of vegetables and fruits can be found in the vegetable factory, including cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and even watermelons.

"We primarily provide two types of vegetables for [the astronauts] to take into space, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. They are ripe, and taste sweet and juicy," said Yuan.

The vegetable factory also includes a packing line, where staff members package vegetables into small containers with salad sauces.

For Yuan, the upcoming Shenzhou-19 mission is the eighth manned space mission that he has supported. He said these packages of fresh vegetables also embody his wish for the mission.

"I wish for the complete success of the Shenzhou-19 mission and hope that China's space program continues to advance and reaches new heights," said Yuan.

High-tech vegetable factory ensures healthy dietary for astronauts in space

Business leaders, researchers and entrepreneurs from around the world gathered at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), where discussions are focusing on turning AI innovation into cross-border partnerships and real-world applications.

The 2026 WAIC is running in Shanghai from Friday to Monday under the theme "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future."

Across the exhibition halls, conversations often extended beyond product demonstrations, with visitors exploring potential partnerships, supply chains and overseas expansion.

Among them was Paolo Brizzi, chief information officer of Italy's Competence Center for Industry and Manufacturing (CIM), who met with a Chinese AI company to discuss cooperation ranging from industrial applications to entering the European market.

"My point is not to be a customer or a provider of technologies, but to identify parts [where we can] actually collaborate and work together," he said.

The four-day conference has also created opportunities for startups to connect with investors, researchers and potential customers. One startup launched an online networking group on the opening day, attracting hundreds of participants who exchanged ideas, explored business opportunities and sought technical solutions.

Participants said AI innovation depends not only on technological breakthroughs but also on cooperation across industries and countries.

"Collaboration is important because alone you cannot do so much. It needs to be a team support ecosystem," said Florian Wohlrab, CEO of Canada-based OpenHW Foundation.

For many international visitors, the conference is also an opportunity to explore how AI can help address practical challenges. Omar Khan, a participant from Pakistan, said international cooperation is essential to ensuring AI benefits everyone.

"I think, for me, we are all the one. We're human and I think we can cooperate a lot," he said.

Some attendees were looking for solutions to challenges in their home countries. A visitor from Kenya said AI applications such as weather forecast and soil analysis could help improve agricultural productivity across many parts of Africa, where farming remains a cornerstone of the economy.

As countries race to advance AI technologies, participants at this year's WAIC said the conference has become a platform for connecting ideas, technology and demand across borders, helping turn AI innovation into practical international cooperation.

World AI Conference highlights growing demand for global AI partnership