Third International Agrobiodiversity Congress (4)

20 - 23 May 2025. Kunming, Yunnan, China. International Agrobiodiversity Congress (IAC)

25/05 Field visit: Kunming’s Dounan Flower Market

Yunnan Province, located in southwest China, is one of the country's most agriculturally diverse regions due to its varied climate, topography, and rich biodiversity. Its subtropical and highland environments allow for the cultivation of a wide range of crops throughout the year. One of Yunnan’s most prominent agricultural products is tobacco—the province is China’s leading tobacco producer, contributing significantly to the national supply. Other key crops include rice, maize, and wheat, which are grown across its fertile river valleys and plateaus. Yunnan is also a major producer of vegetables, rapeseed, and soybeans, supporting both local consumption and broader domestic markets.

In addition to staple crops, Yunnan is renowned for its specialty agricultural products. These include tea—particularly Pu'er tea, which has gained international recognition—coffee, grown in the warm southern regions like Pu’er and Baoshan, and flowers, with Yunnan being the top cut flower producer in China.

The province also grows a variety of tropical fruits such as bananas, mangoes, and pineapples in its southern parts, and is well-known for its mushrooms, both wild and cultivated, including the prized matsutake. Ethnic diversity and traditional farming methods contribute to a rich agricultural culture, making Yunnan both a breadbasket and a biodiversity hotspot within China.

Kunming’s Dounan Flower Market

Kunming’s Dounan Flower Market, located in the Chenggong District, is the largest flower trading and distribution center in China and one of the most important in Asia. Established in the 1980s, the Dounan market has grown alongside Yunnan’s booming floriculture industry, which benefits from the province's favorable climate, diverse topography, and year-round growing season. Today, Dounan serves as the primary hub for cut flower auctions, wholesale trade, and international exports, playing a central role in the supply chain that links Yunnan’s flower growers to both domestic and international buyers.

The Dounan market operates a modern, clock-style flower auction system, modeled after Dutch practices, which ensures transparent pricing and efficient sales. Every day, millions of stems—mainly roses, lilies, chrysanthemums, and carnations—are traded through this system. The market has integrated digital platforms, allowing remote bidding and online transactions, which has expanded its reach to buyers across China and Southeast Asia. From Dounan, flowers are shipped via cold-chain logistics to major Chinese cities within 48 hours and are increasingly exported to countries like Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. As China positions itself as a global flower supplier, the Dounan Flower Market is not just a regional asset—it is emerging as a continental distribution nerve center for Asia’s fresh flower trade.

Yunnan, as China’s top producer of cut flowers

Yunnan, as China’s top producer of cut flowers, has seen rapid growth in its floriculture industry, bringing economic benefits and employment to the region. However, this expansion has come with significant environmental costs. The large-scale cultivation of flowers requires heavy use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides, leading to soil degradation, water pollution, and chemical runoff. These practices contribute to the eutrophication of water bodies and greenhouse gas emissions, posing risks to both ecosystems and human health. In addition, intensive irrigation—especially during dry seasons—can strain local water resources and disrupt the balance between agricultural and domestic water needs.

The environmental footprint is further amplified by land use changes, as flower farms increasingly encroach on natural habitats, contributing to biodiversity loss and reducing land available for food crops. In response, efforts are being made to promote sustainability in Yunnan’s floriculture sector, including the adoption of water-saving irrigation technologies, integrated pest management (IPM), and environmentally friendly fertilizers. Research into low-input flower varieties and comprehensive land-use planning are also gaining traction. These strategies aim to balance economic growth with ecological preservation, ensuring that Yunnan’s flower industry can thrive without compromising its environmental integrity.