30 Under 30 – The Agri-Tech Dreamers: Smart Farming Under 30
How Luo Han, a 27-year-old innovator, is using IoT sensors to transform farming in rural Hunan.
📝 By David Mitchell | Rural Economy Correspondent
From Rice Fields to Data Fields
Luo Han (27) was born in a farming family in Hunan province, where his parents still cultivate rice and vegetables. As a child, he watched them battle unpredictable weather and rising fertilizer costs, often relying on intuition rather than data. “One season of drought could undo a year of hard work,” he recalls.
During his engineering studies at Central South University, Luo became fascinated with the potential of the Internet of Things (IoT). He realized sensors could give farmers real-time insights about soil, water, and weather—tools that could make farming more efficient and less risky.
Building Smart Farming Solutions
At 25, Luo Han launched AgriSense, a startup producing low-cost IoT crop sensors designed for smallholder farmers. Unlike expensive Western models, AgriSense devices are affordable, solar-powered, and easy to install.
The sensors send data to farmers’ smartphones, showing soil moisture, nutrient levels, and pest risks. This allows farmers to decide when to irrigate or fertilize, reducing costs and boosting yields.
Today, AgriSense operates in over 100 villages across Hunan and Guangxi, reaching nearly 20,000 farmers.
A Mission for Rural Revitalization
Luo’s vision fits into China’s 乡村振兴 (Rural Revitalization Strategy). By modernizing agriculture, he hopes to make farming attractive again to younger generations.
“Many of my classmates left villages for cities,” he explains. “I want to prove that farming can be high-tech, profitable, and respected.”
He often trains local youth in sensor installation and data analysis, creating new job opportunities that blend agriculture with technology.
Recognition and Support
In 2023, Luo Han was awarded the National Youth Innovation Prize and featured in Forbes China 30 Under 30 – Agritech. His startup has also received support from provincial governments eager to promote sustainable farming.
Local farmers praise him as a bridge between tradition and modernity. One elder farmer put it simply: “He speaks both the language of the land and the language of data.”
Challenges Along the Way
Despite progress, Luo faces obstacles. Many small farmers hesitate to adopt new tools, fearing they won’t understand the technology. Connectivity in remote villages also limits data transmission.
To overcome this, Luo organizes hands-on workshops and created a hotline for farmers to call if they face problems. “Trust takes time,” he admits. “But once they see the results—higher yields and lower costs—they believe.”
Looking Ahead
Luo’s next step is to expand AgriSense into tea plantations in Fujian and fruit farms in Sichuan, tailoring sensors for different crops. He also envisions linking IoT farming data with national food security dashboards, ensuring China can monitor production in real-time.
A Farmer’s Son, A Tech PioneerOn his desk sits a framed proverb gifted by his father: “靠天吃饭 (depend on the heavens for food).” Luo smiles and adds: “Our generation must change this. With technology, farmers can depend on themselves.”
