China moves to encourage agricultural technology innovation

China is keen to accelerate technology innovation and scientific research in agriculture, a move to boost the country's modern agricultural development, a central government statement said Wednesday.

China will intensify efforts to encourage development of both frontier agricultural technologies and basic research, so as to maintain sustainable agricultural growth, said the document issued jointly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, China's cabinet.

The move mainly aims to ensure the country's food security and meet the demand of agricultural development, so as to improve land yield, resource efficiency and labor productivity, said the document.

The government will give support to agricultural research focusing on bio-safety, farm product safety, effective use of farmland, ecological restoration and genetic regulation.

The government also is eyeing major achievements in the development of agricultural bio-technology, seed production, new materials, precision farming, water-saving irrigation, new fertilizers, epidemic control, marine agriculture, product processing and shipping, and farm equipment.

Particular emphasis will be given to scientific innovation in seed production, it said.

China will support the cultivation of new varieties of seeds and promote commercialization of the industry by encouraging large enterprises to enter the seed market through mergers and acquisitions, as well as equity participation, said the document.

The country will work to establish an innovation system that allows researchers from all agricultural sectors to join scientific efforts, and an evaluation system that values practical solutions.

Government authorities will introduce favorable policies, like tax reductions, to encourage agricultural enterprises to focus more on scientific innovation and bring "new research achievements" to the market, said the document.

The government also promised to increase financial support for agricultural research, while attracting loans and venture capital to enterprises that innovate agricultural technology.

With more labs to be built, more efforts will be made to conduct major scientific projects that are related to agricultural development and of public benefit, and the cultivation of new varieties of genetically-modified organisms will be continued, it said.

Local authorities should further promote agricultural technologies and offer farming guidance to grassroot farmers while enhancing meteorological services. Schools and research institutions will also be important forces for the promotion, said the document.

Article by Xinhua News Agency