Guangxi to open new track for food industry via AI, ASEAN opportunities

Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region plans to open a new development track for its food industry through three key measures. These include deepening artificial intelligence (AI) empowerment, fostering emerging growth areas, and expanding cross-border industrial cooperation with ASEAN.

The region has set a clear target for this initiative: by 2027, it aims to see the scale of its food processing industry exceed 321.5 billion yuan ($44.7 billion).

Under industrial plans, Guangxi will use AI to upgrade food processing–promoting digital management in key links like raw material harvesting and logistics, and deepening industrial internet applications and big data applications. It will also cultivate benchmark enterprises, smart workshops, and "AI + manufacturing" scenarios in sectors like beverage and grain oil processing.

For new drivers, Guangxi will focus on four areas: camellia oil, new tea drinks, bio-manufacturing, and prepared dishes. It aims to build a national new tea drink raw material hub and upgrade prepared dishes with automation and the Internet of Things.

By capitalizing on its strategic location adjacent to ASEAN, Guangxi intends to establish agricultural product processing parks in coastal and border areas to facilitate the processing of imported goods from ASEAN, including fruits and aquatic products. The region will also expand oil processing capabilities in Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, and Beihai, strengthening the linkages between South China and ASEAN.

Officials added that food enterprises will be encouraged to explore global markets, with support to showcase Guangxi's specialty foods at events like the China-ASEAN Expo and China International Consumer Products Expo.