San Tin Infinity ECO Park

Near-zero carbon emission agricultural model

San Tin Infinity ECO Park

Vision

Near-zero carbon agricultural operations

ECO Park uses green energy in conjunction with high-tech technology and equipment to showcase a sustainable agricultural operation model, enhancing local citizens’ and the fisheries and agriculture industry’s understanding of this approach.

Recycling community waste

Eco Park recycles food waste produced in Hong Kong daily to create fertilizers and feed.

At the same time, ECO Park uses recycled wood provided by Y.Park [林區] and other organizations to regulate soil, construct park facilities, and pave outdoor pathways.

Assist in achieving carbon neutrality

Countries around the world are working towards achieving carbon neutrality, with nations such as the EU, the US, China, France, and Japan implementing carbon reduction targets and policies since 2015. In the 2020 Policy Address, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government announced its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Reducing carbon emissions and increasing carbon absorption are becoming the inevitable future trends.

To promote sustainable development and protect Hong Kong’s natural environmental ecology, the Strange Farmer is committed to considering how to adhere to sustainability principles in its operations and development processes. One approach is through carbon offset mechanisms, where trees are planted on available land within projects to increase carbon sequestration and contribute positively to the environment.

STEM Environmental Education Camp

How the food you eat comes about ?

The high level of urban development has changed people’s lifestyles, and many are unaware of where their food comes from or how it is transformed into the form they see before them.

KIWI witnesses the process of seeds and fish fry turning into ingredients and even table delicacies. We hope to share this experience with everyone, especially the next generation, so they can understand the hard work and rarity involved in farming and aquaculture, and appreciate the value of food.

Facilities, Projects, and Activities

新田

Eco-friendly greenhouse

KIWI is investing resources to build a multifunctional eco-friendly greenhouse. Located near the fishponds, this greenhouse space can be used for cultivation as well as for hatcheries and agricultural research. The greenhouse employs a hybrid power system, with primary electricity sources being solar and wind power. It integrates 5G automatic sensing and data transmission technology to automatically adjust based on sunlight, wind speed, and direction, maintaining the optimal indoor temperature, humidity, and exposure. We aim for this design to be powered almost entirely by green energy, achieving a sustainable, near-zero carbon emission model.

Lectures and Education Camps

We organize expert lectures, courses, and education camps covering areas such as green energy, eco-friendly aquaculture, big data monitoring, and ecological conservation. These programs offer theoretical lessons, aquaculture and agricultural experiences, and lab sessions, providing a comprehensive learning experience that enables participants to gain in-depth knowledge of environmental protection and aquaculture technology.

Close encounters with various animals

Baby sheep, geckos, red-eared sliders, chinchillas, lop-eared rabbits...

Bird Watching and Conservation

KIWI's new eco-park in San Tin is located along the migratory route of many birds, including a significant number of wintering birds. These birds migrate annually between their breeding and wintering grounds. However, due to human pollution and the abandonment of farmland leading to poor soil quality, these migratory birds, as well as resident birds (those that stay and breed locally year-round), have increasingly limited spaces for foraging and nesting. Their populations seem to be in decline. In the early stages of project development, the Strange Farmer identified this issue and is now working to increase the number of trees and improve the water quality of freshwater fish ponds. The aim is to protect endangered species and conserve biodiversity, attracting more birds that prefer freshwater wetlands and open areas, such as the Greater Painted-snipe, Eurasian Kestrel, White's Thrush, and Zitting Cisticola.

Seedling cultivation base

The San Tin ECO Park serves as a seedling cultivation base, supporting other projects of the Strange Farmer. (The image shows the mangrove seedling nursery for the Tai O Elderly and Inclusive Project.)

Microalgae cultivation system

We use smart LED daylight lamps and a series of equipment to provide optimal growth conditions for microalgae 24/7. The growth process of microalgae helps regulate water quality. Once the microalgae mature, they are dried and ground into nutrient-rich microalgae powder, which can be used as organic feed, fertilizer, and supplement ingredients.

Green energy

The San Tin project, guided by sustainable development principles, is designed and built around an agricultural operation model powered by renewable energy. The farm utilizes geothermal energy, tidal energy, solar power, and wind power, combining these sources flexibly to provide sufficient and stable electricity to support its operations. When 70% of the renewable energy equipment in the park is operational, it can generate 6,000-6,500 kW per hour, which is estimated to cover the project's annual energy consumption for agricultural operations, significantly reducing CO2 emissions by over 300,000 tons.

Aquaculture and agriculture product farming

KIWI uses its own organic feed to produce a variety of aquaculture and agricultural products, including: South American white shrimp, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, gem fish, and yellowfin grouper.

Pond sludge upgrading and regeneration

As fish farms operate, a significant amount of sludge accumulates at the bottom of fish ponds, containing numerous pests and microorganisms. Typically, to maintain clean water quality suitable for fish growth, fish ponds need to be regularly cleaned. However, the sludge that is removed is classified as waste by the Hong Kong Civil Engineering and Development Department and cannot be accepted by public fill reception facilities, incurring additional disposal costs. In the view of the Strange Farmer, this so-called "waste" sludge has substantial potential as a recyclable material. We combine conceptual design with technology to harness the nutrient-rich properties of the sludge. By mixing it with specific ratios of sand, effective microorganisms, and treated agricultural waste (such as tree branches, roots, and animal manure), we convert it through a series of processes into high-quality planting soil (flower soil) with suitable granule size, hydrophobicity, and humus content, without adding synthetic chemicals. Currently, there is a high demand for planting soil in Hong Kong for agriculture, urban greening projects, and garden construction, requiring thousands of tons. By using our own fish pond and agricultural waste, the Strange Farmer upgrades and regenerates the sludge into planting soil using a unique formula. This process not only reduces waste but also eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers in subsequent planting, producing 100% organic, chemical-free aquaculture and agricultural products. This approach aligns with sustainability principles and contributes positively to the environment.

Food waste recycling

KIWI adheres to the principle of recycling and reusing to minimize waste. We utilize a food waste recycling facility to process food waste generated daily by local restaurants and retailers, transforming it into fertilizers and fish feed to support the operation of our eco-friendly farm. Additionally, the recycling facility is used for demonstration and educational purposes.

Home-produced fish meal

Through processes such as degreasing, dehydration, and grinding, the Strange Farmer converts various fish species into fish meal semi-finished products. These are then blended with our own microalgae powder in specific ratios. The resulting fish meal is rich in protein, carotenoids, various minerals, and over forty vitamins, making it particularly suitable for feeding poultry, livestock, and fish, as well as for use as fertilizer. At the San Tin Eco-Park, we produce high-quality fish meal that is 100% Hong Kong-made, from raw materials to finished product. We offer a range of fish meals with different protein levels (ranging from 40% to 75%) and can customize the blend by adding various ingredients according to customer requirements to meet diverse needs.