张盼曾经把农业想象成农民头戴草帽，背着收割钩，顶着大风酷暑在土地上劳作， 根据新华网的一篇文章.
然而，当他两年前被录取进入研究生课程时，他意识到可以控制自然环境以防止植物受到有害天气的影响并提高生产力。
在张研究的西北农林大学的实验室里，一台设备向水中的几株生菜发出紫光。温度、湿度和光照强度由控制终端监控。
Zhang and three other students from the university jointly developed the technology. “The equipment can control the root temperature of the crops and supplement sunlight at any time based on their needs,” he said. “It is one of the techniques of protected cultivation.”