China: Modern agriculture takes center stage as China celebrates Farmers' Harvest Festival.

Storyline Modern agriculture takes center stage as China celebrates Farmers' Harvest Festival It's the harvest season. And here, at the main venue of the ninth Farmers' Harvest Festival, the latest agricultural products and technologies are on display. But the advances don't stop at the exhibition stands. Just dozens of meters from the main venue, every turn through the fields seems to reveal something new. With the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System guiding them, two autonomous harvesters are collecting rice — an upgraded approach to farming that is just being promoted in the area. Niu Cong, Agricultural machinery operator, Jinniu Agricultural Machinery Cooperative, Zaoyang: "They can automatically drive from the garage to the field and, with a single click, enter the field and start harvesting. When the grain tank is full, they can automatically stop and unload the grain." In the peach orchard next door, robots are picking the fruit. The harvest then goes through sorting machines, which classify the peaches according to different quality standards. Bao Xue, General Manager, Xiangyang Origin Technology Co., Ltd.: "The orchard's automated harvesting equipment was just introduced this year. With labour costs rising, these machines can significantly reduce the cost of hiring workers." Alongside the machinery are new crop varieties developed to bring more value to every acre. Huang Yichang, Reporter: "Take a look at the corn. They're smaller and more vibrant in color than ones we're used to seeing." This new variety, called high-protein corn, has just moved from the laboratory at Huazhong Agricultural University to the fields. Guo Guidong, Agronomist, Zaoyang Agricultural Technology Extension Center: "Corn and other crops with higher protein content tend to be more yellow in color, just like soybeans. The higher protein content makes them suitable for use in the feed industry, helping reduce our country's reliance on imported feed ingredients such as soybeans." The face of harvesting is changing. It is no longer just about how much farmers can grow, but also how technology can help them grow smarter. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]