Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs: Advance research and development to overcome technological bottlenecks in seed resources, thereby reducing reliance on imported seeds.

Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in consultation with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Finance, has issued the following response to proposals aimed at reducing reliance on imported seeds and safeguarding national food security.

Allocate more resources to advance research and development on critical technologies related to seed varieties, thereby reducing reliance on imported seeds.

Over the years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in coordination with relevant departments, has actively supported breeding innovation, helped strengthen and expand the national seed industry, and ensured that China’s food security is safeguarded by Chinese seeds. First, joint research initiatives have been organized. Since 2014, the Ministry has launched collaborative efforts on four major grain crops, 11 specialty crops, and key livestock breeds, encouraging seed companies and research institutions to cooperate in areas such as resource exploration, material development, and breeding technologies, thereby accelerating breeding innovation. In July this year, the Ministry issued the “National Overall Plan for Joint Breeding Research,” aiming to establish a pyramidal framework: at the apex, ten leading enterprises conduct independent research; along the main body, joint projects focus on ten major grain and important livestock species; and at the base, 64 key specialty species are addressed through collaborative efforts. This comprehensive strategy covers multiple sectors—including grains, cotton, oilseeds, sugar, fruits, vegetables, tea, meat, eggs, and dairy—speeding up the selection and promotion of superior varieties. Second, the National Livestock and Poultry Genetic Improvement Program has been implemented. Since 2008, the Ministry has successively released genetic improvement plans for dairy cattle, pigs, beef cattle, laying hens, broiler chickens, and meat sheep. In 2021, the “National Livestock and Poultry Genetic Improvement Program (2021–2035)” was unveiled, with the goal of establishing a relatively complete commercial breeding system within 10 to 15 years and independently developing a number of breakthrough livestock and poultry breeds that are internationally competitive. Third, the National Key R&D Program has been carried out. Through this program, the Ministry of Science and Technology has launched several priority projects, including “Breeding of Seven Major Crops,” “Mining and Innovative Utilization of Agricultural Biological Germplasm Resources,” “Development of New Livestock and Poultry Varieties and Technological Innovation in Modern Pastures,” and “Technological Innovation in Marine Agriculture and Freshwater Fisheries.” These initiatives aim to tackle critical technologies such as the conservation of agricultural biological germplasm resources, precise germplasm identification, and gene discovery, providing robust scientific and technological support for high-quality development of the seed industry. Fourth, the Modern Seed Industry Enhancement Project has been implemented. Over the past three years, the Ministry, together with the National Development and Reform Commission, has advanced this project, focusing on resource conservation, breeding innovation, testing and evaluation, and high‑quality seed production. Efforts have been intensified to bolster infrastructure for the seed sector, continuously enhancing China’s capacity for breeding innovation.

Going forward, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in coordination with relevant departments, will, in accordance with the central government’s strategic plans for revitalizing the seed industry, vigorously implement key national science and technology programs and projects, establish and refine an innovation system for the seed sector that fosters deep integration among research, education, industry, and application, and comprehensively enhance the sector’s innovation capacity, striving to ensure independent and controllable access to core germplasm resources.

Actively seeking more M&A deals similar to the acquisition of Swiss company Syngenta by China National Chemical Corporation.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs actively supports the mergers and reorganizations of seed industry enterprises, helping them grow stronger and larger. Several documents, including the National Plan for Revitalizing the Seed Industry and the “Opinions on Accelerating the Development of a Modern Crop Seed Industry,” explicitly emphasize the central role of enterprises as innovation drivers, promoting mergers and reorganizations within the sector and prioritizing such initiatives as key tasks. First, a national framework of leading seed enterprises has been established. Based on factors such as R&D capabilities, financial strength, market scale, and growth potential, 69 crop‑seed, 86 livestock‑and‑poultry‑seed, and 121 aquaculture‑seed enterprises have been selected from over 30,000 nationwide, forming a strategic array aimed at addressing critical challenges, addressing weak links, and reinforcing competitive advantages, thereby accelerating the development of a core force for revitalizing the seed industry. Second, local governments have been encouraged to strengthen resource integration. Local seed industry groups, such as Guangdong Seed Group Co., Ltd. and Sichuan Modern Seed Industry Development Group Co., Ltd., have been established; Sinochem Agriculture has integrated companies including Zhongzhong Group, Sanbei Seed Industry, and Qianyin High‑Tech; CITIC Group has taken controlling stakes in Longping High‑Tech and, through it, acquired seed firms like Guangxi Hengmao, Beijing Lianchuang, and Tianjin Deruite; meanwhile, China Agricultural Development Seed Group has acquired Shanxi Luyu, Henan Dishen, and Jiangsu Jintudi, among others. Third, under the guidance of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the former China National Chemical Corporation completed the acquisition of Swiss firm Syngenta, leading to the establishment of Syngenta (China) Investment Co., Ltd. This move has created one of the world’s largest agri‑tech enterprises in terms of revenue and with the most diversified business portfolio. Additionally, CITIC Agriculture acquired Dow’s corn‑seed operations in Brazil and, in partnership with Shounong, purchased Cherry Valley Ducks in the United Kingdom. In 2014, the Ministry of Finance and China Investment Corporation jointly founded the China Overseas Agricultural Investment and Development Fund, providing financial support to encourage and guide industry investors to expand internationally, invest in breeding projects, and facilitate the introduction of advanced technologies.

Going forward, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will work with relevant departments to deepen the initiative to support and strengthen leading seed enterprises, actively facilitate connections between key companies and research institutions, financial institutions, and seed‑production bases, and provide support for mergers and reorganizations. Through a multi‑pronged approach, the ministry will strive to cultivate carrier‑level flagship enterprises, “hidden champion” firms, and specialized platform companies, continuously enhancing their core R&D capabilities, industrial driving force, and international competitiveness, thereby promoting the high‑quality development of the seed industry.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs