Key takeaways: Major priorities for agricultural science and technology innovation from 2024 to 2028 have been officially unveiled, with a focus on technological breakthroughs across ten critical areas.

Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a notice on the promulgation of the “Key Areas for National Agricultural Scientific and Technological Innovation (2024–2028).”

The specific details are as follows:

Building a strong agricultural nation hinges on science and technology. At present, a new wave of agricultural technological revolution—characterized by biotechnology and information technology—is poised to deliver major breakthroughs. The paradigm of agricultural research is undergoing profound transformation, interdisciplinary integration is advancing steadily, and emerging technologies such as gene editing, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence are continuously evolving, driving the frontiers of global agricultural science and accelerating the restructuring of agricultural value chains and supply chains. To bolster the competitiveness of China’s agricultural sector and foster new, high‑quality productive forces in agriculture, we must focus on the following ten priority areas and expedite the achievement of a high level of self-reliance and self‑strengthening in agricultural science and technology.

I. Development of New Agricultural Varieties

Main objective: Based on the conservation of genetic resources, with independent innovation at its core and seed security as the bottom line, we will concentrate our efforts on overcoming bottlenecks, addressing weaknesses, strengthening our competitive advantages, and managing risks. We will drive the iterative upgrading of the breeding technology system and the research, development, and application of biotechnological breeding, accelerate the development of superior varieties with independent intellectual property rights, and swiftly achieve self-reliance and controllability over the seed supply of key agricultural products, thereby solidifying the seed foundation for agricultural modernization.

Key areas: (1) Conduct the collection, introduction, conservation, and precise characterization of agricultural genetic resources; identify key genes that regulate yield, quality, stress tolerance, and resistance to major pests and diseases; elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying the formation of breeding‑relevant traits; intensify research on the interactions between agricultural organisms and their environments; and clarify the mechanisms for synergistically improving yield, quality, stress resistance, and resource-use efficiency. (2) Develop and expand precision gene‑editing tools with independent intellectual property rights, and strengthen the development of core breeding technologies such as genome‑wide selection and intelligent design. (3) Breed high‑yielding, high‑quality rice, wheat, maize, and other crops that are broadly adaptable, resistant to multiple stresses, and cost‑effective; cultivate salt‑alkali‑tolerant crop varieties; develop high‑oil, high‑yield soybean varieties and short‑maturing, high‑oil rapeseed varieties; and create high‑quality, high‑yielding, multi‑resistant, widely adaptable economic crops and forage species. (4) Develop swine breeds with strong reproductive performance, high feed‑conversion efficiency, robust adaptability, disease resistance, excellent meat quality, and rapid growth; breed cattle and sheep that are high‑yielding, high‑quality, highly adaptable, and disease‑resistant; produce white‑feathered broiler lines with superior production performance, excellent meat quality, and strong disease resistance; and develop high‑quality, grain‑saving, high‑yielding specialty egg‑laying chicken breeds. (5) Establish a technical system for the precise transplantation of aquatic animal germline stem cells and the creation of unisexual new varieties; breed fast‑growing, disease‑ (and stress‑) resistant, high‑quality aquaculture strains adapted to highly intensive farming; and conduct research on breeding techniques for precious and endangered aquatic wildlife. (6) Develop independently controllable, intelligent core large models, systems, and equipment for germplasm storage, physiological and biochemical indicator measurement, phenotypic data collection and analysis, and smart breeding.

II. Enhancing Farmland Quality

Main objective: Establish and improve a robust system of key technologies for farmland conservation, strengthen the protection of black soils, address degraded farmland, and carry out comprehensive rehabilitation and sustainable utilization of saline‑alkali lands, thereby promoting the coordinated enhancement of farmland quantity, quality, and ecological health. Leveraging scientific and technological innovation, we will ensure that food security is underpinned by sound land management, firmly safeguarding the cornerstone of grain production.

Key areas: (1) Elucidate the patterns of farmland quality change and their primary driving mechanisms; analyze the key processes and underlying mechanisms by which obstacles such as soil erosion, impoverishment, acidification, salinization–alkalization, compaction, and soil-borne diseases are mitigated; and clarify the mechanistic links among soil–plant interactions, water and nutrient cycling, biodiversity maintenance, biological soil fertility enhancement, and carbon sequestration. (2) Develop critical technologies for black‑soil conservation and sustainable use, comprehensive remediation and utilization of saline–alkali soils, control of soil acidification, enhancement of soil organic matter, reduction of soil compaction and crusting, alleviation of continuous cropping barriers in multi‑cropping regions, and removal of harmful factors. (3) Innovate technologies for reducing residual plastic mulch, organic pollutants, and emerging contaminants, as well as for green prevention and control, alongside techniques for cultivating healthy farmland and restoring biodiversity. (4) Design and manufacture major products—including novel fertilizers, functional bio‑organic fertilizers, soil‑conditioning composites, precision and high‑efficiency fertilization systems, and integrated water–fertilizer management—along with their supporting equipment. (5) Develop rapid soil‑testing technologies to support smart agriculture, establish a digital soil information system and an integrated sky–ground–field monitoring framework, and build a healthy farmland evaluation system and an early‑warning and forecasting platform. (6) Integrate technological models that synergistically enhance both farmland quality and productivity.

III. Development of Agricultural Machinery and Equipment

Main objective: Focusing on key areas such as large-scale, high-end intelligent agricultural machinery and equipment, as well as machinery tailored for hilly and mountainous regions, we will achieve breakthroughs in a number of landmark complete machines and critical components, promote the integrated application of information technologies—including the Internet of Things, big data, and artificial intelligence—with agricultural machinery, and continuously elevate the modernization of agricultural material equipment.

Key areas: (1) Investigate the interaction mechanisms among agricultural machinery, crops and livestock, and the soil environment, and develop new principles and methods for regulating crop and livestock production. Develop key algorithms, artificial intelligence models, agricultural sensors, satellite‑networked agricultural machinery technologies, high‑pressure common‑rail systems, wear‑resistant low‑drag soil‑penetrating components, double‑knot tying devices, and other core components, technologies, and systems. (2) Research and develop high‑power continuously variable transmission tractors, new‑energy tractors, as well as large‑scale, high‑end intelligent agricultural machines for efficient precision seeding and planting, precise application of water, fertilizers, and pesticides, and high‑efficiency, low‑loss harvesting of grain, oilseed, and major cash crops. (3) Design and manufacture specialized tractors for hilly and mountainous terrain and paddy fields, multifunctional power platforms for mountainous areas, equipment for sowing and planting in heavy, sticky soils, lightweight and simplified harvesting systems for grains, oils, cotton, fruits, vegetables, tea, and medicinal plants, and machinery suitable for agricultural production in hilly and mountainous regions. (4) Develop facility‑based electric operation and transport systems, factory‑style seedling (transplant) cultivation, efficient grafting and transplanting technologies, high‑efficiency harvesting and selective picking of fruits and vegetables, intelligent environmental control systems, and robotic platforms for monitoring growth conditions and detecting pests and diseases. (5) Create precision feeding (feeding) systems, intelligent inspection robots, automated vaccine injection devices, rotary milking machines, smart environmental management systems, efficient capture and harvesting technologies, deep‑sea intelligent aquaculture solutions, and equipment and operational robots for managing manure and wastewater treatment in livestock and aquaculture. (6) Design advanced primary processing equipment for agricultural products, including efficient on‑site cleaning, energy‑saving drying, sorting and grading, cutting and processing, quality‑preserving storage and transportation, and livestock and poultry slaughtering and portioning.

IV. Crop Disease and Pest Management

Main objective: Accelerate the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying outbreaks and epidemics of major crop pests and diseases, strengthen the development of monitoring and early-warning systems, innovate green pest‑management technologies and products, and establish an integrated pest‑management framework to effectively address the occurrence of major crop diseases and pests.

Key areas: (1) Investigate the patterns of succession and disaster‑inducing mechanisms underlying major crop pests and diseases under new conditions—such as adjustments in agricultural cropping structures, transformations in tillage systems, changes in climatic conditions, and invasions by alien species—elucidate the interaction dynamics among the four trophic levels of plants, microorganisms, pests, and their natural enemies, and decipher the mechanisms of plant resistance to pests and diseases while identifying and harnessing resistant genetic resources. (2) Continuously innovate a large‑scale, long‑term, intelligent system for the detection, monitoring, and early warning of crop‑damaging organisms. (3) Promote iterative upgrades of technologies including biological control, plant immunity, pheromone‑based management, physicochemical trapping, information‑disruption strategies, and ecological regulation, and develop new products such as green pesticides, RNA‑based biopesticides, pheromone‑based attractants and repellents, and microbial pesticides. (4) Innovate intelligent identification technologies for pests and diseases, and design smart plant‑protection devices and equipment for intelligent pest and disease monitoring and precision, target‑specific application of agrochemicals. (5) Develop innovative approaches to evaluating pest and disease resistance and establishing resistance‑management systems; establish proactive defense frameworks against emerging and sudden‑onset invasive pests; and construct comprehensive, end‑to‑end control systems for major crop pests and diseases.

V. Prevention and Control of Animal, Poultry, and Aquaculture Diseases

Main objective: Accelerate breakthroughs in fundamental research on the emergence and spread of major infectious diseases, strengthen original innovation capacity in key technologies for the prevention and control of livestock, poultry, and aquaculture diseases, develop new, safe, and highly effective vaccines, and elevate the technical level of prevention and control for major animal diseases and agricultural biosafety, thereby supporting and ensuring a stable and secure supply of meat, eggs, milk, and aquatic products.

Key areas: (1) Conduct research on the etiology and epidemiology of livestock, poultry, and aquaculture diseases; elucidate the mechanisms underlying the transmission and spread of major infectious diseases, as well as the mechanisms governing the emergence, dissemination, and control of antimicrobial resistance in animal pathogens; characterize the structure and functions of key pathogens; and clarify the interaction dynamics among critical pathogens, hosts, and ecological niches. (2) Develop and apply omics‑based, big‑data‑driven, and artificial‑intelligence‑enabled technologies for early risk assessment and early warning of livestock, poultry, and aquaculture diseases, and design and deploy intelligent monitoring devices and systems. (3) Achieve breakthroughs in pivotal technologies, including precision‑efficient vaccine development, drug molecule design and delivery, the creation of advanced novel adjuvants, and rapid pathogen identification coupled with molecular traceability. (4) Introduce new, safe, and highly effective vaccine products such as genetically marked vaccines and mRNA vaccines; develop rapid, high‑throughput diagnostic tools for disease detection; and advance original veterinary medicines, innovative traditional Chinese veterinary formulations, and biotherapeutic agents. (5) Integrate key technologies spanning surveillance, quarantine, immunization, diagnosis, disinfection, and harmless disposal to establish a comprehensive prevention and control framework for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture diseases, and carry out demonstration projects aimed at the eradication and clearance of major infectious diseases.

VI. Efficient Crop and Livestock Production

Main objective: Focusing on boosting per‑unit yields across large areas of grain, oilseed, cotton, and sugar crops, advancing high‑efficiency facility‑based cultivation, and promoting intensive livestock, poultry, and aquaculture production, we will integrate and innovate systematic technological frameworks tailored to diverse production settings, establish green, smart, and highly efficient production models, and substantially enhance overall agricultural productivity while continuously improving the quality, economic returns, and competitiveness of the sector.

Key areas: (1) Elucidate the key processes and underlying physiological–ecological mechanisms governing the interactions among crop yield, quality, and resource utilization, thereby revealing the mechanisms and regulatory pathways that enable high yield, superior quality, and efficient resource use in cropping systems. (2) Achieve breakthroughs in critical technologies such as precision cultivation, sustainable farming practices, precise water and nutrient management, and smart farm management, and develop novel green agricultural inputs. (3) Establish precision‑based, intelligent, and simplified cropping systems and models that promote balanced increases in yield, quality, and efficiency across diverse regions and for various types of agricultural operators. (4) Uncover the mechanisms underlying the efficient conversion of feed and forage into biomass and the efficient sequestration of carbon and nitrogen, elucidate the nutritional metabolic foundations of precision feeding for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture, and innovate a comprehensive theory of nutrient metabolism spanning the entire process from nutrient supply to product quality. (5) Accurately assess the nutritional value of feed ingredients and the nutrient requirements of livestock, poultry, and aquaculture, and overcome technical and process barriers to the high‑value utilization of non‑grain feed resources. (6) Develop new feed resources and safe, efficient, and health‑promoting green inputs for sustainable animal husbandry, establish an integrated “grain–feed” production model that boosts both income and productivity, and build a comprehensive technological framework for green, grain‑saving, low‑carbon livestock farming. (7) Break new ground in theories and methods for highly water‑efficient agriculture, develop key technologies for maximizing water use efficiency in crops, design smart irrigation equipment and drought‑resistant, water‑saving products tailored to national conditions, establish a monitoring and evaluation system for agricultural water conservation, and pioneer innovative approaches such as rice–fish integrated farming and factory‑scale recirculating aquaculture.

VII. Green and Low-Carbon Agriculture

Main objective: Accelerate innovation in agricultural non-point source pollution prevention and control, as well as in climate‑change adaptation technologies; establish an ecological circular agriculture technology framework; promote the reduction of input use, cleaner production, resource recovery from waste, and the adoption of ecologically sustainable industrial models; and continuously enhance the level of sustainable agricultural development.

Key areas: (1) Analyze the mechanisms, migration patterns, and source‑tracing of greenhouse gas emissions and nonpoint‑source pollution in crop and livestock production, and establish methodological frameworks, standard systems, and background databases for assessing the environmental footprint of these sectors. (2) Achieve breakthroughs in technologies for reducing, sequestering, and mitigating the activity of agricultural nonpoint‑source pollutants, as well as in methods for controlling their transport and transformation. (3) Innovate key technologies and products, including carbon‑enhancing straw return to fields and diversified biomass utilization, manure‑based nutrient cycling in crop–livestock systems, and synergistic approaches to pollution control and emission reduction within agricultural ecosystems. (4) Scientifically assess the carrying capacity of pastoral, nearshore fishing, and large‑water ecological fisheries ecosystems, develop efficient eco‑intensive aquaculture and sustainable fishing techniques, and establish precision management models for livestock and fishery resources. Conduct monitoring and assessment of nearshore fishery resources, advance novel monitoring and evaluation methods based on environmental DNA, the Internet of Things, acoustics, and other technologies, and provide evidence‑based support for quota‑based harvesting and total allowable catch management for major fishery species. (5) Develop new pathways for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural production, construct climate‑smart technological models, and enhance the capacity of agricultural ecosystems to increase productivity, sequester carbon, and reduce emissions.

VIII. Agricultural Product Processing and Ingredient Manufacturing

Main objective: By overcoming key technological bottlenecks and developing advanced equipment in areas such as precise quality control throughout the entire processing cycle, resource‑saving quality enhancement, and intelligent, high‑efficiency manufacturing, we will build a diversified food supply system, strengthen the resilience and stability of agricultural industrial and supply chains, and open up new frontiers and pathways for the development of the agricultural sector.

Key research directions: (1) Conduct studies on the mechanisms underlying the evolution of the material basis of agricultural raw materials in response to food‑manufacturing processes and target quality requirements, while strengthening research into the action mechanisms of nutritional and health‑promoting factors in foods. (2) Develop intelligent sensing technologies for postharvest physiological, pathological, and environmental parameters, and pioneer new technologies for preserving quality and reducing losses during storage and transportation of agricultural products. (3) Carry out research on the process adaptability of grains, oilseeds, livestock and poultry, and aquatic products, as well as on the compatibility between raw materials and processing technologies; develop digital characterization techniques for product quality and multi‑dimensional, fraction‑specific, precision‑controlled processing methods. (4) Investigate innovative technologies for developing novel food resources, integrating cutting‑edge advances in microbiomics, artificial intelligence, big data, materials science, and smart manufacturing to create next‑generation foods that meet emerging applications and specialized needs. (5) Study food‑industry robotics, adaptive interactive advanced processing technologies and equipment, and develop green, intelligent, integrated processing systems and equipment for agricultural products, while establishing a digital design and manufacturing framework for the food sector.

IX. Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products

Main objective: Develop innovative key technical systems for the monitoring of agricultural product and agricultural input quality and safety, risk assessment, and dietary nutrition, comprehensively elevating the overall quality and safety of agricultural products and providing stronger scientific and technological support to meet nutritional and health needs from farm to table.

Key areas: (1) Conduct targeted screening and precise confirmation of emerging contaminants, biotoxins, allergens, and other hazardous substances as well as potential harmful metabolites, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of associated safety risks. (2) Carry out research on the quality, safety, and nutritional efficacy of alternative proteins, thereby establishing the safety profile of novel food resources. (3) Develop advanced technologies for the efficient identification, in-depth characterization, and activity preservation of functional components in agricultural products, and, in response to the specific health needs of target populations, optimize and promote dietary strategies incorporating safe, nutritious agricultural product combinations. (4) Investigate multidimensional, spatiotemporal online evaluation methods for safety, nutritional value, and sensory quality, along with quality control and authenticity‑verification techniques; develop integrated intelligent devices and systems for monitoring, identification, and grading, enabling the classification and grading of premium, specialty, and innovative agricultural products, as well as their authentication and traceability. (5) Establish a library of novel hazard‑identification elements, build a rapid detection system for agricultural product quality and safety, and construct a comprehensive technological framework for the efficient identification of risk factors and proactive risk management across the entire supply chain.

X. Rural Development

Main objective: Focusing on key technological models for developing rural specialty industries, building low-carbon and eco‑friendly villages, improving the rural living environment, and enhancing rural governance, this initiative seeks to unlock agriculture’s multifunctional potential and rural areas’ diverse values, providing more science‑and‑technology‑driven solutions to build livable, workable, and beautiful countrysides, and thereby boosting the effectiveness and efficiency of efforts to achieve all‑round rural revitalization.

Key areas: (1) Conduct research to develop agricultural and rural modernization models and implementation pathways tailored to different regions—such as the eastern, central‑western, and northeastern areas—and to varying levels of economic development. (2) Achieve breakthroughs in key technologies and equipment for regionally distinctive specialty crops, including fruits and vegetables, oilseed crops, sugar crops, edible fungi, and meat products; strengthen integrated innovation in superior variety breeding and propagation, efficient production and green pest management, advanced processing, intelligent grading, and cold‑chain preservation, thereby driving transformation and upgrading across the entire industrial value chain. (3) Develop technology and model solutions suitable for diverse rural areas to treat and recycle domestic waste, domestic wastewater, and human excreta from toilets, and establish a monitoring and evaluation system for improving and upgrading rural living environments. (4) Investigate critical technologies related to low‑carbon, eco‑friendly rural development, enhancement of rural landscapes, locally adapted low‑carbon building retrofits, and strengthening villagers’ capacity for disaster prevention and mitigation, with the aim of creating high‑quality, low‑carbon rural communities. (5) Study digital technologies for rural governance, cultural and health‑oriented development, and forward‑ and backward‑extension of industrial chains, promoting the integration and sharing of information and data to support the upgrading of digital rural infrastructure. (6) Integrate and apply key technological models for rural spatial planning, industrial layout, rural cultural and tourism development, and livable housing design.

Key Areas of National Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation (2024–2028).pdf

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs