Core Viewpoint - The conference highlighted the need for a collaborative approach among government, sugar factories, agricultural machinery cooperatives, and farmers to effectively promote mechanized sugarcane harvesting in China [10][11]. Group 1: Current Challenges - China's sugarcane mechanization rate has remained low, with a nearly 40% decrease in planting area over the past decade and rising labor costs, leading to the question of "who will plant and how to plant" [8][9]. - Mechanized harvesting is identified as a critical factor limiting the sustainable development of the sugarcane industry, with existing technology and standards posing multiple challenges [13][14]. - The lack of a clear benefit-sharing mechanism and stable contractual relationships among farmers, sugar factories, and machinery operators is a structural barrier to promoting mechanization [37][40]. Group 2: Proposed Solutions - The conference emphasized the importance of integrating machinery services, agricultural practices, and order-based agriculture, with sugar factories playing a pivotal role in this transformation [22][24]. - Experts suggested that sugar factories should act as organizers and incentivizers, establishing a "special raw material pool" for mechanized harvesting and implementing a three-part standard system [80][81]. - The need for developing domestic low-loss harvesting technologies and efficient cleaning methods tailored to China's specific conditions was highlighted to reduce reliance on foreign machinery [78][79]. Group 3: Regional Initiatives - Guangxi has introduced a three-year action plan aiming for mechanization rates of 10%, 15%, and 20% over the next three sugar seasons, supported by various subsidy policies [52][53]. - Guangdong is exploring a "sugar factory-led" model, transitioning sugar factories from raw material purchasers to production organizers through technical training and innovative promotion methods [60][62]. - Yunnan is implementing a phased harvesting and mobile cleaning approach, with significant growth in the establishment of cleaning lines, indicating a tailored strategy for hilly terrain [66][68]. Group 4: Collaborative Mechanisms - Experts unanimously pointed towards the need for a collaborative mechanism among sugar factories, agricultural machinery cooperatives, and farmers to enhance the tightness of the industry chain [71][72]. - The call for breaking traditional thinking and fostering a collaborative, intelligent decision-making environment was emphasized as essential for industry development [75][76]. - The conference concluded with a collective commitment to addressing the challenges of mechanized sugarcane harvesting, aiming for a mechanization revolution that ensures national sugar security [86][88].