Expert Analysis: How Should We Win the Battle to Revitalize the Seed Industry?

The Two Sessions of 2021 took place at a pivotal juncture: on the one hand, we have realized the age-old dream of eradicating poverty and embarked on the path of rural revitalization; on the other, we are confronting a period of profound change unseen in a century.

Under these circumstances, ensuring food security and safeguarding agricultural production have become among the most pressing priorities. At the heart of this effort, the seed industry stands as the linchpin. This year’s Central Economic Work Conference, the Central Rural Work Conference, the No. 1 Central Document, and the Government Work Report all underscore the need to mount a decisive campaign to revitalize the seed sector and address the critical bottleneck in seed resources. So how exactly should we wage this battle to turn the tide in the seed industry? And how can we break the deadlock on the issue of constrained access to seed resources? To explore these questions, a reporter from The Beijing News invited two leading experts—Liu Luxiang, Deputy Director of the Institute of Crop Science at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Hou ShuSheng, Chief Scientist of the National Waterfowl Industry Technology System—to analyze the current state of the seed sector and discuss its future prospects.

Seed industry self-reliance is more important today than ever before.

Seeds are the “chips” of agriculture and the foundation of food security. “Securing seeds means securing the key to food security, which is why the seed industry receives such high priority,” said Liu Luxiang.

China is a populous country of 1.4 billion people, and food security must remain firmly in our own hands. Over decades of development, China has transitioned from food scarcity to ample food supply, with the seed industry making an indispensable contribution. As Liu Luxiang put it, “China’s total grain output has remained stable at around 650 million tons for many years, and the per capita annual grain availability exceeds 470 kilograms. Among these achievements, advances in breeding and improvements in seed quality have been among the most critical foundations.”

“Food is not only a fundamental necessity for human survival but also a cornerstone of improving living standards,” said Hou Shuisheng. “The increase in total food production and the enhancement of food quality are both closely linked to the seed industry. Take livestock and poultry production as an example: since the reform and opening-up, China’s overall output has grown manyfold. In the early days of reform and opening-up, the average annual egg consumption per person was less than one kilogram; today it stands at around 18 kilograms. Similarly, per capita annual milk consumption was once below three kilograms, whereas it now exceeds ten kilograms. The reason we emphasize the importance of the seed industry today is that it underpins our food supply, nutritional security, and food safety—basic safeguards that are essential to our well-being.”

Since 2020, under the impact of the pandemic, imports and exports of grain and livestock and poultry varieties have been significantly affected, further underscoring the importance of achieving self-reliance in the seed industry. “In the face of such a major epidemic,” Hou Shuisheng said, “we have come to appreciate even more the critical role that varietal security plays in production.”

The development of the seed industry has ensured food security.

China has achieved 100% self-sufficiency in its two major staple crops—wheat and rice—and likewise boasts 100% domestic seed‑production capacity. “At present, our food supply is absolutely secure; it is fair to say that China’s grain is grown from Chinese seeds.”

How have we achieved self-sufficiency in staple food production and seed supply? Liu Luxiang told reporters, “Over the past several decades, the yields of wheat and rice—our two major staple crops—have increased by roughly 100 kilograms per hectare every 10 to 20 years. This progress is closely linked to the relentless efforts of Chinese scientists to advance breeding programs for these crops. Of course, such breeding work is the result of multifaceted collaboration. For example, the collection and utilization of germplasm resources, as well as the breakthrough in hybrid rice, were made possible when, in the 1970s, a male-sterile wild rice plant was discovered in Hainan. This discovery served as a catalyst, spurring rapid advances in China’s hybrid rice breeding program.”

Similar efforts are underway across many fields, Liu Luxiang explained. “We have a team of scientists dedicated to collecting germplasm resources; they tirelessly gather diverse genetic materials throughout China and around the world—some by searching in the wild, others through international exchanges. At present, China operates the second-largest crop germplasm bank globally, which already houses 520,000 accessions and continues to grow at a rate of 20,000 per year. Meanwhile, a new germplasm bank is under construction; once completed, it is expected to store up to 1.5 million accessions.”

The rapid and efficient development of livestock and poultry production has also been underpinned by breed improvement. According to Hou Shuisheng, “Over the past four decades, China has achieved a series of breakthroughs in livestock and poultry production. In terms of output, the country now produces more than 60 million tons of pork, over 17 million tons of chicken, and more than 11 million tons of duck annually. Among these meats, the commercial pigs raised for pork are largely bred from domestically developed stock. As for chicken, yellow-feathered broilers—which account for half of the market—now rely entirely on domestic breeding lines; white-feathered broilers, once wholly imported, have also made significant progress. In the duck sector, over 95% of the breeds used for roast duck are home‑bred, while lean‑type ducks destined for processed products such as salted duck and braised duck have shifted from complete reliance on imports to a domestic‑bred market share of 35%. This represents a major breakthrough, and it is entirely feasible to raise that share to over 50% within the next two to three years.”

Where exactly is the “bottleneck”?

So, where exactly does the bottleneck lie in seed‑resource security? Liu Luxiang explains that the utilization and innovation of germplasm resources remain among the key technological challenges. “The third national survey of crop germplasm resources has yet to conclude, and our collection efforts are still expanding rapidly. At the same time, how can we make better use of these resources? China is a major germplasm‑resource country, but not yet a powerhouse in this area. Currently, the identification and utilization rates of our existing germplasm are relatively low—perhaps only around 10 percent. To harness these resources effectively and lay a robust scientific foundation for developing domestically bred varieties, much work remains to be done.”

Soybeans are among the largest imported grains in China, and soybean breeding is a key priority for future genetic improvement, according to Liu Luxiang. “Domestically produced soybeans now exceed 19 million tons, which largely meets domestic demand for edible soybeans—covering consumption of tofu, soy milk, and various other soy products. Imported soybeans are primarily used for feed, such as animal feed and oil extraction. Looking ahead, in addition to stabilizing or even expanding planted acreage, boosting yield per unit area will be a crucial component of turning the tide in the seed industry.”

Hou Shuisheng believes that, for the livestock and poultry breeding industry, there are numerous “bottleneck” issues. The primary challenge is that existing genetic resources fail to meet breeding needs, making the creation of new resources tailored to breeding objectives a critical priority. On one hand, it is essential to thoroughly explore and scientifically evaluate both domestic and international genetic resources; on the other, we must leverage cutting-edge technologies and methodologies to develop novel genetic materials. At the same time, breeding new livestock and poultry varieties requires highly efficient breeding techniques and approaches, necessitating strengthened basic biological research and technological innovation. Under current conditions, how can China better harness its production capacity and, through advances in breeding and adjustments to the farming structure, ensure an adequate supply of high-quality animal protein to its population? “China has a large population but limited land, and animal husbandry consumes substantial feed resources while imposing significant environmental costs. Our capacity to sustain feed, water, and environmental systems is extremely constrained. Therefore, going forward, we must redouble our efforts in breeding to develop varieties that use feed more efficiently and place less strain on the environment. Meanwhile, we can also alleviate pressure by restructuring the farming mix: beef and mutton have the highest production costs, requiring the most feed and resources, followed by pork, with poultry and duck requiring the least. For example, producing one jin of pork typically requires three to three-and-a-half jin of feed, whereas for chicken and duck, this can be reduced to two jin—meaning that less feed can yield more high‑quality animal protein. Looking ahead, could we guide dietary shifts to steer consumer preferences, thereby conserving resources? This, too, represents a promising avenue.”

Integrating industry, academia, and research to turn the tide.

With staple grains and mass‑produced vegetables and fruits, China can ensure a high degree of self‑sufficiency in its seed industry. However, in sectors such as soybeans, corn, white‑feathered broiler chickens, and high‑end vegetables, the level of domestic seed self‑reliance remains relatively low, and reliance on imports must continue to be reduced.

At present, what is the greatest challenge in reversing the situation of seed imports in these sectors and turning the tide in the seed industry? Liu Luxiang explains: “The pandemic has, in fact, served as a wake-up call. To ensure food security amid an ever‑changing landscape, we must cultivate the capacity to sustain overall grain production. This underscores the profound significance of our country’s strategy of ‘storing grain in the land and in technology.’ A breakthrough in the seed sector, therefore, is precisely about storing grain in technology.”

“We must fight a decisive battle to turn the tide in the seed industry, which underscores that we indeed have significant shortcomings in this area,” said Hou Shuisheng. “In livestock and poultry breeding, our challenge lies in the fact that we started relatively late and have had only a short period of development, resulting in weak accumulation across technology, resources, and other key areas. Going forward, the key will be how we can better leverage cutting-edge international technologies and resources while making the most of our own domestic assets.”

“The seed industry encompasses not only breeding but also resource collection, evaluation, and the development of breeding systems,” said Hou Shuisheng. “It is a multidisciplinary field that calls for closer collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutions. The insights and achievements of the scientific community must ultimately be translated into practical applications. Therefore, in the years ahead, fostering even tighter and more seamless integration among these three sectors will remain a pivotal challenge for the sector’s continued development.”

Seed industry security: Are there standards?

What would it mean to have won the battle to revitalize the seed industry? How can we determine whether our seed sector is truly secure, and are there measurable criteria to guide this assessment? On this point, Liu Luxiang stated: “At present, there is indeed no unified standard. From my personal perspective, three factors appear particularly crucial: first, maintaining stable overall grain production; our domestically developed seeds must be able to meet the demands of that production volume. Second, quality—whether the seeds are superior and capable of yielding high‑quality, diversified products. And third, the effective translation of research outcomes, ensuring that breeding advances are swiftly and smoothly converted into productive capacity.”

Liu Luxiang believes that independent and controllable access to seed resources should be one of the key indicators. “There may be many criteria for assessing security, but I think a core standard is having independent and controllable seed resources—meaning that when faced with external uncertainties and pressures, we can resolve problems on our own and ensure that our food and livestock‑poultry production remains unaffected. Only then can others not hold us hostage.”

Hou Shuisheng argues that seed industry security should be governed by clear standards. Specifically, this entails assessing whether the breeds used in China’s livestock and poultry production pose any risks—such as their ability to meet production needs and ensure continued, efficient operations in the face of disease outbreaks or international export restrictions. Furthermore, it involves evaluating whether these breeds can satisfy Chinese consumers’ current and future demands in terms of both quantity and quality.

Source: The Beijing News