Yu Xinrong: Scientifically, Pragmatically and Efficiently Promote the Development of Modern Seed Industry

(Reporter Ning Qiwen) On April 10, the first anniversary of the "Opinions of the State Council Concerning Accelerating the Development of Modern Crop Seed Industry" (Gufa [2011] No. 8) was issued. The Ministry of Agriculture held a symposium inviting Some experts and scholars talked about the development of the seed industry, exchanged experiences, and studied the next steps. Yu Xinrong, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, stressed that all departments, regions, and seed industries should further deepen their understanding of the important significance of the State Council's "opinions," seize the unprecedented opportunities, work together, organize scientific plans, and push forward with pragmatic and efficient efforts. Development, seek new breakthroughs, and strive to build a modern seed industry.

Yu Xinrong pointed out that China is a big agricultural country, agriculture is the foundation of the country, and seed industry is the leading industry of agriculture. The No. 8 document issued by the State Council last year is a historic document. The National Conference on Modern Crop Seed Industry Work is a historic conference and has a landmark in the history of seed industry development. In the past year, the relevant ministries and commissions conscientiously implemented the State Council's deployment, detailed and actualized supporting policies and measures, local party committees and governments and the industry responded positively, and 23 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) issued concrete implementation opinions, and their efforts have been continuously increased to advance modern species. The industry has achieved remarkable results. Policy support has been increased, institutional innovation has progressed, business confidence has been significantly enhanced, and the market environment has been gradually optimized. All sectors of society have created a good atmosphere for promoting seed industry development. On the whole, the “big climate” that promotes the development of the seed industry has taken shape and the seed industry has entered an unprecedented period of opportunity. However, we must also see that there is still a long way to go to develop modern seed industry and we must also solve many difficult problems. We must further deepen our understanding of the reform of the scientific research system for seed industry, and related policies must be put in place; innovation resources should continue to be transferred to enterprises and effectively support seed enterprises to become bigger and stronger; seed bases must be speeded up to ensure the quantity and quality of seed for seed security; Market supervision should be further strengthened, and a fair and competitive market environment should be maintained.

Yu Xinrong emphasized that we must unswervingly follow the overall arrangement of the State Council, do a solid job in all aspects of work, and scientifically, pragmatically and efficiently promote the development of modern seed industry in China. First, we must continue to promote the introduction and implementation of relevant policy measures. Some local implementation opinions have yet to be refined. Increase investment in basic research of scientific research units, commercial breeding of enterprises, seed base construction, and seed management systems, and promote the implementation of policies such as insurance for seed production and seed reserves. Second, we must solidly promote the seed industry scientific research system reform and mechanism innovation. Firmly promote scientific research units and commercial breeding, and "separation" from the seed companies they are running, in order to promote scientific research units to strengthen basic research and enterprises to strengthen commercialization of "two enhancements." Build a cooperation platform to promote “two cooperation” between scientific research units and enterprises, basic research and commercial R&D, encourage the flow of commercialized scientific research resources and talents to enterprises, and strengthen the integration of production, teaching and research. Third, we must support the integration of breeding and promotion of seed enterprises to become bigger and stronger. Through the implementation of seed development funds, biological breeding, industrial science and technology projects, and promote the establishment of commercial breeding system. We should open up a variety of “green channels” as soon as possible to accelerate the introduction of leading talents and the cultivation of outstanding entrepreneurs. Fourth, we must accelerate the construction of national seed production bases. We must pay close attention to the study and development of the Gansu hybrid corn seed production, Sichuan hybrid rice seed production, Hainan breeding and seed production in the three major bases for the construction plan, the implementation of the base construction project. Accelerate the promotion of the level of seed production facilities and gradually realize the scale, mechanization, standardization, and intensification of seed production. Fifth, we must further strengthen the supervision of the seed market. Co-ordinate verification of varieties and protection of new varieties, and increase the intensity of variety withdrawal. We will continue to organize special campaigns for seed enforcement year activities, strengthen seed information scheduling and market monitoring, and do a good job of providing a shortage of crops to ensure production and seed security.

(For the summary of the speech on the implementation of the "First Anniversary of the State Council's Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Modern Crop Seed Industry", see today's version 67)