China is making great strides in applying science and technology to improve its agricultural production and food security. One of the key areas of innovation is biological breeding, which involves using biotechnology to create new varieties of crops and livestock that are more productive, resilient, and nutritious.
Biological breeding is not a new concept, but China has been investing heavily in research and development, infrastructure, and talent cultivation to enhance its capabilities and competitiveness in this field.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China has established more than 1,000 national and provincial-level key laboratories, engineering centers, and innovation platforms for biological breeding. It has also trained more than 100,000 professionals and technicians in this field.
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One of the main goals of biological breeding is to improve the quality and diversity of seed varieties, which are the basis of agricultural production. China has developed more than 10,000 new varieties of crops and livestock through biological breeding, covering major food crops such as rice, wheat, corn, soybean, potato, and rapeseed, as well as fruits, vegetables, flowers, tea, cotton, and silkworms.
These new varieties have increased the yield potential, disease resistance, stress tolerance, and nutritional value of the crops and livestock.
For example, China has developed hybrid rice varieties that can produce more than 15 tons per hectare, breaking the world record several times. It has also created wheat varieties that can resist stripe rust, a major fungal disease that affects wheat production worldwide. Moreover, it has bred corn varieties that can adapt to different ecological zones and climatic conditions, such as drought, cold, salinity, and alkalinity.
Another example is the development of transgenic pigs that are resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), a viral infection that causes high mortality and economic losses in the pig industry. The transgenic pigs carry a gene from a mouse that confers immunity to PRRS. They have been tested for safety and efficacy in laboratory and field trials, and have shown no adverse effects on health or reproduction.
China’s achievements in biological breeding have not only improved its own food security and agricultural competitiveness, but also contributed to global food security and poverty alleviation.
China has shared its biological breeding technologies and products with more than 100 countries and regions, especially in Africa and Asia. It has also participated in international cooperation and exchanges on biological breeding standards, regulations, and ethics.
China is committed to developing biological breeding in a safe, responsible, and sustainable manner. It has established a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for biosafety management, covering the whole process of research, development, production, distribution, use, and supervision of biological breeding products.
It has also implemented strict quality control and inspection systems to ensure the safety and quality of seeds and livestock.
China believes that biological breeding is an important means to achieve green development and ecological civilization. It advocates the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature and respects the diversity of life forms.
It strives to balance the development of biological breeding with the protection of biodiversity and genetic resources. It also promotes the integration of traditional knowledge and modern technology in biological breeding.
China is confident that biological breeding will bring more benefits to its people and the world. It will continue to innovate and cooperate in this field, aiming to create a better future for agriculture and food.