Gui'an Tea Science and Technology Backyard receives national approval

Gui'an Liangshan Nianlun Tea Industry Co is equipped with automated production lines to enhance operational efficiency and product quality. [Photo/ddcpc website]

The China Association for Rural Special Technology recently approved the establishment of the Gui'an Tea Science and Technology Backyard in Southwest China's Guizhou province, marking its official designation as a national-level platform for a three-year term.

A science and technology backyard is an innovative service platform that integrates talent cultivation, scientific research, and social services. It allows university faculty and students to work directly with agricultural communities, supporting farmers while turning scientific research into practical results.

Located in Sicun village, Gui'an New Area, Gui'an Tea Science and Technology Backyard is rich in biodiversity, boasting over 40,000 ancient tea trees that are more than a century old.

In recent years, the village has partnered with Gui'an Liangshan Nianlun Tea Industry Co to launch the "zero-carbon ancient tea" project. Through cooperation among cooperatives, enterprises, and households, the initiative has revitalized idle collective assets and converted ecological value into economic growth.

To meet growing demand, Gui'an Liangshan Nianlun Tea Industry Co has expanded its factory space from 900 to 1,400 square meters, equipping the facility with modern withering troughs, rolling machines, and fixation equipment.

This year, the company introduced advanced Oolong tea production processes from the Wuyi Mountains of East China's Fujian province. By partnering with representative practitioners of intangible cultural heritage, the company is diversifying its product portfolio, shifting from a single-product focus to a robust system centered on Oolong and black teas.

This national designation provides a premier platform for research institutes and university experts to serve rural development. Moving forward, Gui'an Tea Science and Technology Backyard will drive breakthroughs in tea processing and ancient tree conservation, deepen research-academia-industry integration, and promote the scientific and industrial use of ancient tea resources.