JD.com, China’s largest retailer, has partnered with Japanese chemical manufacturing giant Mitsubishi Chemical to open what it claims to be the largest hydroponic “plant factory” in China.

The indoor farm "brings the most cutting edge technology in agriculture together with JD’s state-of-the-art retail infrastructure", it said.

The facility spans 11,040 square meters and incorporates a hydroponic culturing system with solar light and a closed seedling production environment using artificial light.

Currently it produces  spinach, cabbage, red and green lettuce, coriander, among others, which are sold to JD's customers both online and offline at its 7FRESH supermarkets.

The factory is integrated with JD’s cold chain logistics network, so vegetables can be delivered to consumers the same day they are harvested.

“The JD Plant Factory in Tongzhou marks JD’s entry into the very beginning of the fresh food production chain, allowing us to guarantee that the fresh goods we sell have been treated with the care JD applies to everything we do,” said Xiaosong Wang, president of JD FMCG and Food businesses.

“JD’s supply chain technology, logistics network and e-commerce expertise combined with Mitsubishi Chemical’s sophisticated growing technology puts us in an ideal position to create an entirely new model for agriculture, and cultivates a fresh and healthy lifestyle in China.”