Smart technology and clean energy improve the efficiency of agricultural machinery in China
Modern agriculture increasingly relies on technologies that raise productivity while reducing resource consumption. At the 2026 China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition (CIAME) in Tianjin, China, manufacturers showcased machines combining new energy sources, intelligent sensors and automated control systems.
One of the exhibition's standout products was a new-energy-powered harvester standing four meters tall and fitted with a 5.5-meter-wide cutting header. It can harvest approximately 33 hectares of corn in a single day. According to exhibitor Li Jinliang, tests showed that the machine consumes 10 to 20 percent less fuel than conventional equipment. Its electric motor delivers around 400 horsepower, providing stronger and more consistent power.
The harvester is equipped with more than 30 sensors to support intelligent operation. Its system automatically adjusts the threshing drum's speed according to the moisture content of the crop. This improves harvesting precision, helps prevent grain leakage and reduces losses.
Another machine on display was designed to process straw after harvesting. The new straw baler uses technology that removes soil while the straw is being compressed into bales. Traditional balers can collect soil along with the straw, requiring power plants to carry out additional cleaning. The new technology reduces the need for this extra step.
Inside the machine, automated sensors monitor material density. Exhibitor Zhang Dawei said an eight-stage process gradually reduces the soil content. Once it falls below 10 percent, the straw enters the baling chamber. The process allows the machine to continue operating without stopping.
The showcased equipment highlights two important trends in agricultural machinery: greater energy efficiency and increased automation. Lower fuel consumption can reduce farmers' operating costs, while sensors and automatic adjustment systems allow machinery to respond more precisely to crop conditions. Removing soil during straw baling can also improve the quality of the material for subsequent uses, including at energy facilities.
According to CCTV+, the three-day 2026 China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition concluded Wednesday in Tianjin. The machines on display illustrate how combining clean energy with intelligent systems can make agricultural operations more productive, precise and user-friendly.
