An app named Fenghuo Huinong for protecting plant life was launched on Saturday by Beijing Lvfulong Agriculture Co. Ltd. in northwestern Beijing's Yanqing district. 

The name of the app means "beacon fire that benefits agriculture," and it is the first of its kind in Beijing. It uses AI technologies and big data to conduct diagnosis on plants to identify diseases, as well as offer tips on protecting the plants. Fenghuo Huinong can be downloaded to any smart devices that run the Android OS.

Fenghuo Huinong boasts a database of 30,000 photos that aid in diagnosing plant diseases and insect pests of 24 categories of fruit and vegetables, and offers plant protection tips for 39 species of other plants, said Lin Congtian from the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Lin is one of the researchers who worked on the research and development of this app.

The app also provides a digital interface between users and experts, Lin said. Through the app, farmers and other users can seek help by uploading an image of infected plants, then receive responses from the AI software and a community of agricultural experts including treatment suggestions for any pest, disease or nutrient deficiency problem. In addition, farmers can get alerts when new information is released about plant disease in nearby regions and take preventive measures.

Zhang Zhi, another researcher involved in the app's development from Beijing Plant Protection Station, said the app could accurately identify plant diseases, which is important for the users as well as for promoting the app.

"We hope this app could serve both farmers and decision makers in agricultural policy planning," said by this project leader Zhang Jin, a post-doctoral researcher with the Beijing Lvfulong Agriculture Co. Ltd. "It's a response to the nation's campaign for the green and sustainable development of the agricultural sector over the next five years (2021-2025)."

Yao Jinming, an agronomist with the Yanqing Farm of the Beijing Capital Agribusiness & Food Group, hailed the app as a move towards modern and green agriculture. "Easy to use and quite helpful, the app translates technology into concrete methods for us," Yao said. "It will assist with field scouting and help us find solutions and better farming practices quickly and timely." Yao's farm produces corn, grain, and fruits and vegetables for Beijing and nearby regions.

While recognizing the merits of the app, experts also said there is space for improvement, such as adding more categories of plants, providing more concise descriptions of the tips, and offering training on how to use the app to local farmers. 

The app's development received funding support from agricultural brand Guishui Nonggeng in Yanqing. The app's R&D was jointly conducted by the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences，the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Plant Protection of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing Plant Protection Station, and the Yanqing Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.