Technology-driven innovation revitalizes Jingdong walnut industry

In the remote mountains of Jingdong, Yunnan Province, a quiet transformation has turned the once-struggling walnut industry into a source of prosperity. Recently, Zhejiang University’s (ZJU) project on revitalizing the Jingdong walnut industry through technological innovation was selected as a typical model for targeted assistance by the Ministry of Education.

The results are tangible. By 2025, the per capita annual income of more than 120,000 walnut farmers in Jingdong had increased by 2.6 times compared to the period before the assistance began. This success is the fruit of a decade-long commitment by ZJU researchers who used technology to rekindle hope in the region.

Jingdong is a typical mountainous agricultural county where walnut cultivation covers over 40,000 hectares, supporting half of the local population. However, since 2015, falling prices and the irregular appearance of local walnuts had left farmers discouraged. The deep textures and stains on the shells often led consumers to perceive them as unappealing, pushing prices to the lowest levels in China.

To solve this, Professor WANG Zhiping led a team from ZJU to Jingdong in 2020. After analyzing over 20,000 documents and conducting field research, they discovered that while the shells were unattractive, the kernels were of premium quality—white, crisp, and rich in Vitamin E. The team decided to shift the focus from selling whole walnuts to selling high-quality kernels.

The challenge was processing. Jingdong walnuts are a unique local variety that standard machinery could not handle. The team delved into biomaterials research and successfully identified the cracking line of the shells. In 2022, the first integrated production line for Jingdong walnuts was completed, replacing manual labor with efficient machinery.

Beyond technology, the team utilized ZJU’s alumni network to connect Jingdong walnuts with major trading platforms. Today, these products have entered a market platform with an annual transaction value of 30 billion yuan, reaching global markets.

Over the past six years, the team has trained over 50 new farmers and summarized a comprehensive assistance model known as Nine-New Integrity. This model covers everything from new teams and strategies to new technologies and markets. Looking ahead, ZJU plans to upgrade this model and promote it to other walnut-producing regions in Yunnan and Sichuan, ensuring that more families can benefit from the trees of happiness.

Adapted and translated from the article written by LIN Qianxu, YU Zhenjun, CHEN Yuting and ZHANG Shufan
Translator: DING Chenwei
Photo: the interviewees
Editor: DING Chenwei