HKUBS_Standard_Coloured_Shield_Blue_Text_Logo - 380
  • Global Presence
  • About Us
        • About us about us
        • A Premier Business School in Asia with Global Influence
        • Overview
          • Message from the Dean
          • Vision & Mission
          • Milestones
          • Partnerships & Global Network
          • Beta Gamma Sigma HKU Chapter
          • Rankings & Accreditations
          • Corporate Collaboration
        • Leadership
          • Faculty Management
          • International Advisory Council
        • Our Stories
        • Contact Us
        • Staff Portal
        • Campuses
  • Programmes
        • Programmes programmes
        • Diversified Learning Experience Empowers our Students
        • Undergraduate
        • Masters
          • MAA
          • MAcct
          • MCGRM
          • MEcon
          • MFWM
          • MFin
          • MFFinTech
          • MGM
          • MSAF
          • MSc(BA)
          • MScMktg
          • MWM
        • MBAs & EMBAs
          • MBA
          • IMBA
          • HKU EMBA
        • PhD
        • Executive Education
        • DBA
  • People
        • People people
        • International Faculty Body that Offers Quality Education
        • Faculty
        • Post-Doctoral Fellows
        • Demonstrators/ Teaching Assistants
        • Research Postgraduate Students
        • Administration
  • Research
        • Research research
        • Lead the Frontier of Knowledge Creation
        • Thought Leadership
          • Latest Research Publications
          • HKEJ Column
          • FT Chinese Column
          • In the Media
        • Academic Areas
        • Faculty Members
        • Research Grants
        • Seminars & Conferences
          • Edward K Y Chen Distinguished Lecture Series
        • Research Centres & Institutes
        • Hong Kong Macroeconomics Forecast
        • HKU Knowledge Exchange
        • HKU Scholars Hub
        • Shenzhen Research Institutes
  • Events
  • Media
        • Media media
        • Inspire the Society and Community with Rigorous Insights
        • School News
        • In the Media
        • Press Release
  • Career
        • Career career
        • Fostering Strategic Partnerships and Talent Development
        • Recruit our Talents
        • Student Career Development
        • Career Opportunities
          • Faculty Recruitments
          • HKU Career Site
  • 繁
  • 简
Type To Search
HKUBS_Standard_Coloured_Shield_Blue_Text_Logo - 380
Type To Search
  • Global Presence
  • About Us
        • About us about us
        • A Premier Business School in Asia with Global Influence
        • Overview
          • Message from the Dean
          • Vision & Mission
          • Milestones
          • Partnerships & Global Network
          • Beta Gamma Sigma HKU Chapter
          • Rankings & Accreditations
          • Corporate Collaboration
        • Leadership
          • Faculty Management
          • International Advisory Council
        • Our Stories
        • Contact Us
        • Staff Portal
        • Campuses
  • Programmes
        • Programmes programmes
        • Diversified Learning Experience Empowers our Students
        • Undergraduate
        • Masters
          • MAA
          • MAcct
          • MCGRM
          • MEcon
          • MFWM
          • MFin
          • MFFinTech
          • MGM
          • MSAF
          • MSc(BA)
          • MScMktg
          • MWM
        • MBAs & EMBAs
          • MBA
          • IMBA
          • HKU EMBA
        • PhD
        • Executive Education
        • DBA
  • People
        • People people
        • International Faculty Body that Offers Quality Education
        • Faculty
        • Post-Doctoral Fellows
        • Demonstrators/ Teaching Assistants
        • Research Postgraduate Students
        • Administration
  • Research
        • Research research
        • Lead the Frontier of Knowledge Creation
        • Thought Leadership
          • Latest Research Publications
          • HKEJ Column
          • FT Chinese Column
          • In the Media
        • Academic Areas
        • Faculty Members
        • Research Grants
        • Seminars & Conferences
          • Edward K Y Chen Distinguished Lecture Series
        • Research Centres & Institutes
        • Hong Kong Macroeconomics Forecast
        • HKU Knowledge Exchange
        • HKU Scholars Hub
        • Shenzhen Research Institutes
  • Events
  • Media
        • Media media
        • Inspire the Society and Community with Rigorous Insights
        • School News
        • In the Media
        • Press Release
  • Career
        • Career career
        • Fostering Strategic Partnerships and Talent Development
        • Recruit our Talents
        • Student Career Development
        • Career Opportunities
          • Faculty Recruitments
          • HKU Career Site
HKUBS_Standard_Coloured_Shield_Blue_Text_Logo - 380
  • Global Presence
  • About Us
    • Overview
      • Message from the Dean
      • Vision & Mission
      • Milestones
      • Partnerships & Global Network
      • Beta Gamma Sigma HKU Chapter
      • Rankings & Accreditations
      • Corporate Collaboration
    • Leadership
      • Faculty Management
      • International Advisory Council
    • Our Stories
    • Contact Us
    • Staff Portal
    • Campuses
  • Programmes
    • Undergraduate
    • Masters
      • MAA
      • MAcct
      • MCGRM
      • MEcon
      • MFWM
      • MFin
      • MFFinTech
      • MGM
      • MSAF
      • MSc(BA)
      • MScMktg
      • MWM
    • MBAs & EMBAs
      • MBA
      • IMBA
      • HKU EMBA
    • DBA
    • PhD
    • Executive Education
  • People
    • Faculty
    • Post-Doctoral Fellows
    • Demonstrators/ Teaching Assistants
    • Research Postgraduate Students
    • Administration
  • Research
    • Thought Leadership
      • Latest Research Publications
      • HKEJ Column
      • FT Chinese Column
      • In the Media
    • Academic Areas
    • Faculty Members
    • Research Grants
    • Seminars & Conferences
      • Edward K Y Chen Distinguished Lecture Series
    • Research Centres & Institutes
    • Hong Kong Macroeconomics Forecast
    • HKU Knowledge Exchange
    • HKU Scholars Hub
    • Shenzhen Research Institutes
  • Events
  • Media
    • School News
    • In the Media
    • Press Release
  • Career
    • Recruit our Talents
    • Student Career Development
    • Career Opportunities
      • Faculty Recruitments
      • HKU Career Site

HKEJ Column

Home Research Thought Leadership HKEJ Column
Developing agriculture technology is a necessary step towards food security

Developing agriculture technology is a necessary step towards food security

14 Sep 2022
Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on WhatsappShare on LinkedInShare on Email
確保糧食安全 農業科技絕不可少

自全球新冠肺炎疫情及俄烏戰爭爆發以來,各國在維持供應鏈穩定和糧食安全問題方面一直面對史無前例的挑戰。2050年,預計全球將需要養活接近100億的人口,加上糧食供應會受到一些不可預測的短期衝擊,以至長期氣候變化加劇對土地水源的影響,環球農業將面臨巨大的考驗,對豐富和廉價食品的供應造成嚴重壓力。香港90%以上的食品供應是從國外進口,所以700多萬人口的糧食安全,長遠來看亦會備受衝擊。

本文將探討本港未來再工業化中不可或缺的科技──農業科技。農業科技(Agtech)是結合農業與技術,利用科技創造新的耕作方式,如室內農業和魚菜共生的可持續生產模式。透過最新的資訊科技,包括物聯網、感測器、機器人技術、人工智能和數據分析等解決方案,提升農產品質素及生產效率,從而紓緩勞動力短缺、水和土地管理以及害蟲等問題。

農業「金庫」成必爭之地

為確保糧食安全,各國政府要克服的問題不勝枚舉,並與不同的政府部門息息相關──範圍涉及提高農民收入,從而改善糧食供應的經濟政策,以至善用糧食,從而提升市民營養的公共衞生政策。但歸根究柢,如果農業生產的增幅無法追上全球需求的預期增長,糧食和農業原材料價格將會飆升,弱勢社群將首當其衝受到影響。而自俄烏戰爭爆發以來,在貧窮國家已陸續出現糧食短缺及饑荒問題。

有見及此,投資者已為這巨大的挑戰作好長遠準備,投資一些將有助解決全球食物危機的初創公司。其中香港的維港投資重點關注農業及合成生物科技,例如推出「無奶雪糕」的人造奶生產商PerfectDay及「素肉」製造商ImpossibleFoods。根據Plant Based Foods Association的數據,儘管今年經濟不穩,然而美國植物性食品和飲料零售銷售額的增長速度是普通食品的3倍,銷售額在過去3年增加達54%,2021年更達至新高的74億美元。

放諸四海,我們也可看到許多企業愈來愈注重關於未來食物的投資。在英國,M&S馬莎百貨與Infarm合作,在7家商店試驗種植新鮮草藥系列。雜貨物流技術公司Ocado已投資1700萬英鎊創建自家的垂直農場,並在其配送中心旁邊種植草藥和蔬菜。這些企業均渴望能更接近消費者,影響他們的消費行為,從而減少其碳足跡。

總部位於新加坡的農業科技公司Sustenir,在實驗室應用垂直農業種植非本土農作物(如草莓和芝麻菜),減少對進口食品的依賴及在運輸過程中所產生的碳排放。Sustenir利用人工智能、大數據,以及LED照明系統,在實驗室內種植,除了可以應付當地的需求,亦有助減少食物浪費。最近這家初創公司已擴展至香港,在屯門工廠生產兩種羽衣甘藍。

按香港特區政府2017年的統計,全港共有4400公頃農地,當中有3700公頃為荒廢農地,因此,政府急需善用這些土地,以解決香港經濟刻不容緩的發展問題。香港寸金尺土,所以應善用荒廢的農地以獲取更好的經濟效益。香港要再發展農業,並非重回昔日的傳統農業,而是應以都市農業為發展目標,並以此為本港再工業化的其中一環。

為下一代建可持續糧食系統

本港近年興起了水耕耕作方法,本地科企FarmacyHK進駐工廠大廈,並研發了全環控智能移動水耕種植機,只使用一個凍櫃便能生產各式香草和蔬菜。水耕種植法的耗電耗水量低,比傳統農業減少90%用水,配合物聯網技術,利用感應器控制光、空氣和營養度,全天候遙距監控種植情況,有助解決農地短缺和水資源問題。

現時漁護署與蔬菜統營處在長沙灣蔬菜批發市場設立了全環控水耕研發中心,研究農業應用先進的水耕栽培技術,收成期相比於一般蔬菜快一倍,由播種起計21天便可收割。惟設置相關儀器成本和保養成本以千萬計,價格非常高昂,普通的中小企或農民難以負擔。該項目為了收支平衡,所以專注於售價較高的即食沙律菜,然而如沒有足夠的資金,很難擴大規模。政府應加大上述投資及對業界的支援,並設立「智能化」農業優先區,以確保香港在未來日益不穩的天氣情況下仍能有穩定的農作物供應量。

香港消費者亦對環保食品、「責任消費」意識和企業ESG(環境、社會、企業管治)表現日漸重視,對食物的可持續發展也愈趨關注。根據消費者委員會2020年可持續消費調查,87%的市民表示願意支付額外5%或更多的費用購買環保或以可持續方式生產的產品或服務。然而,超過三分一的市民認為香港市場上的此類產品並不足夠。最大的障礙是「沒有足夠資訊」、「太昂貴」和「不容易獲得」。如政府在可持續消費上作出更多行動,便可鼓勵市民支持及促進可持續消費。

為了永續經濟、食物安全及責任消費,香港政策決策者應重視如何在港支持農業科技,培育人才,為有意創新者提供平台,以推動經濟多元化之餘,確保食品安全,達至足以維持本港甚至區內人口需求的農業生產規模。這個願景有賴政府、商界、農業利益相關者、環保團體以及教育機構共同努力才能實現。

 

鄧希煒教授
亞洲環球研究所所長、馮國經馮國綸基金經濟學教授

(本文同時於二零二二年九月十四日載於《信報》「龍虎山下」專欄)

Turning the Tide on Gender Equality31 Aug 2022
Lyndon Johnson’s Political Maneuver21 Sep 2022
Trending
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Yet Another  Policy Blunder
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Yet Another Policy Blunder
Dr. Y. F. LUK
Is America's 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' a masterpiece or a misstep?According to Dr Y.F. Luk, Honorary Associate Professor at HKU Business School, this new policy comes at a steep price. He explained that while the 870-page bill makes tax cuts permanent, it pays for them by slashing vital medical and food subsidies.
9 Jul 2024
Faculty
Stablecoins: A Trust Anchor in the Sea of Digital Currency
Stablecoins: A Trust Anchor in the Sea of Digital Currency
Dr. Yifei ZHANG
In recent years, the global financial markets have been turbulent, with Bitcoin’s price fluctuations resembling a rollercoaster—attracting investors in pursuit of high returns. However, in this vast digital ocean, most enterprises and investors are not seeking adventure, but rather a safe haven for investment.
2 Jul 2025
Faculty
TANG_Hei_Wai_web1
About Author
Prof. Heiwai TANG

Associate Dean (External Relations)

Sign up for upcoming news and events
LinkedIn WeChat Instagram Facebook Weibo Twitter YouTube

©2025, HKU Business School. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Web Accessibility Statement