China has unveiled an ambitious plan to strengthen agricultural self-reliance by 2028, focusing on biotechnology, AI, gene editing, and innovative machinery. The strategy seeks to boost food security, develop high-yield crop varieties, and reduce reliance on foreign seeds. Policies also emphasize sustainable farming, rural modernization, and smart technologies like robotics and IoT. With over 7 billion metric tonnes of grain output achieved in 2022, China aims to lead a global agricultural revolution, ensuring resilience amid climate challenges and supply-chain uncertainties.
China, the world’s leading producer of cereal grains and home to over 1.4 billion people, is embarking on an ambitious journey to strengthen its agricultural self-reliance through groundbreaking scientific and technological advancements. A newly unveiled strategic plan by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs emphasizes innovation as the cornerstone of China’s food security and sustainable development goals.
The ministry’s roadmap identifies ten priority areas, with a focus on cutting-edge disciplines such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence (AI), new agricultural breeding technologies, arable land quality enhancement, and advanced farming machinery. These initiatives aim to bolster China’s agricultural independence and ensure its industrial supply chain remains resilient and self-sufficient.
“In today’s world, scientific and technological innovation has become the main battlefield of international strategic competition, with an unprecedentedly fierce race for technological dominance,” noted an article written by a ministry official in the Communist Party’s Qiushi Journal earlier this week, underscoring the importance of the plan.
China’s agricultural achievements have already demonstrated the power of technology. In 2022, the nation’s grain output surpassed 7 billion metric tonnes for the first time, a feat attributed largely to advancements in agricultural science. Building on this success, the ministry heralds a new wave of agricultural innovation, driven by breakthroughs in biotechnology, gene editing, synthetic biology, and AI. These technologies are expected to accelerate the development of high-yield, adaptable, and high-quality crop varieties, reducing reliance on foreign seed sources and enhancing food security.
The plan highlights the development of key crops and products, including rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, white-feathered chickens, and aquatic species. Researchers will intensify efforts in biological breeding and genetics to achieve significant strides in agricultural productivity, with a strong emphasis on cultivating varieties with independent intellectual property rights.
In addition to breeding advancements, China is prioritizing agricultural mechanization and smart technologies. Policies will promote the development of high-end, intelligent farming equipment that integrates AI, robotics, and the Internet of Things to boost efficiency and reduce dependence on manual labor. These efforts align with the country’s broader goal of modernizing rural areas, strengthening local economies, and improving farmers’ living standards.
Environmental sustainability also remains a central theme. Measures such as the 2022 black-soil conservation law are safeguarding the fertility of China’s most productive farmland. Efforts to combat soil degradation, implement intelligent monitoring systems, and enhance arable land quality will further contribute to sustainable agricultural practices.
In recent years, climate challenges and global supply-chain uncertainties have underscored the urgency of agricultural security. Since President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of an independent seed industry in 2022, researchers have accelerated efforts to achieve “technological breakthroughs in seeds” and revitalize the sector. These innovations, coupled with the ministry’s forward-looking policies, aim to secure a reliable and sustainable food supply for China’s growing population.
By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and fostering regional development tailored to local needs, China is positioning itself as a leader in the global agricultural revolution. This strategic plan represents a confident step forward in ensuring the nation’s food security and agricultural resilience in an increasingly competitive and uncertain world.
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