Alibaba Cloud Creates System For Raising Better Hogs

Alibaba Cloud has developed ET Agricultural Brain, an artificial intelligence-enabled platform for helping agricultural enterprises, including hog farmers, in China. Proprietary in design, the system is aimed at helping farmers to improve their livestock raising and crop production through innovations. With a special focus on hog farming, ET Agricultural Brain uses algorithm-based models to develop an “exercise regimen” for pigs to improve their health, as well as their piglet yields. China is the world’s largest producer of pork, according to data from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. It also accounts for half of the world’s pork consumption, data from Singapore-based DBS showed.

"That’s Some Pig: How AI’s Serving Up Better Pork in China", Alizila, June 07, 2018

China’s Beverage Industry Is Strong, Growing

New players in China’s beverage manufacturing industry, coupled with rising exports in alcohol, drink, and refined tea, contributed to rising revenue and profit, according to a China-based consulting firm. Profit rose 25.2 percent in the first five months of 2018 to $12.5 billion, while revenue rose 10.8 percent year-on-year to around $99.6 billion. The industry’s ongoing structural reform was a major contributor to success, according to the consultant. New players include fruit grower Pagoda, which has collaborated with Sichuan Chia Meei, a subsidiary of Taiwan fruit business firm Chia Meei. Pagoda’s non-fruit concentrate (NFC) juices, sold under the brand “Hou Guo Zi,” reaped 6.6 million within three days of launch. Another China fruit grower, Chu Cheng Company, is expected to launch NFC products by the end of the year. Dairy milk producers, including Yili and Mengniu, are doing well, though trailing Nestlė and Danone. Jia Duo Bao (JDB), known as China’s Coca-Cola, expects two-digit ...  More

"China's beverage sector booming: New players enter market and exports stay strong", Food Navigator ASIA, July 11, 2018

Meitu Opens Meivolution Festival Highlighting AI Technologies For Beauty Applications

Meitu Inc., developer of an online beauty ecosystem with 450 million users, launched its first Meivolution Festival in Shanghai, China. Combining the Chinese character Mei, which means beauty, with the English word evolution, the event marks the first time the company hosts an offline event. During the festival, Meitu users can join their communities and friends using photography, augmented reality, and image optimization technologies offered by the company. Also, during the event, Meitu will highlight technologies, including artificial intelligence for testing skin quality and providing make-up tips.

"Beauty app holds its first off-line party in Shanghai", Shine.cn, July 20, 2018

Innisfree Introduces New Retail-Equipped Store In China

Korean cosmetics company Innisfree launched its first New Retail store in China. Located at the Li Xing Shopping Plaza in the country’s Hangzhou region, the store comes with New Retail digital and interactive features. Developed by Alibaba founder Jack Ma in 2016, New Retail is designed to use technology to combine online and offline shopping “into one comprehensive channel”. It offers customers convenience whether buying through an app or at an offline store. New Retail features include Magic Mirror, an AR-enabled technology which lets consumers virtually try makeup products; Smart Skin Analyzer, which analyzes the user’s skin and recommends the best Innisfree products based on the skin report; and Vending Machine, which lets consumers buy products at discounted prices using the Taobao mobile app.

"Innisfree Rejuvenates Its Store Experience in China", Alizila.com, July 20, 2018

My Specialist From Schwarzkopf Provides Online Personalized Hair Care

Schwarzkopf’s new My Specialist brand claims to offer customized hair care online, based on microscopic testing, through an exclusive deal in China with T-Mall. The Henkel brand, together with the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, has created a test that assesses the hair’s dryness and damage. This is supplemented by a questionnaire to provide an evaluation that can be treated with personalized products.

"Schwarzkopf hair care ‘e-brand’ launch: next level personalisation", Cosmetics Design Europe, August 10, 2018