Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs: Cultivate a group of leading seed industry technology enterprises with international competitiveness.

The State Council Information Office held a press conference on the economic performance of agriculture and rural areas in the first quarter of 2026. Lu Xiutao, head of the Planting Industry Management Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, stated that the ministry will focus on achieving self-reliance and self-strengthening in agricultural science and technology, as well as self-control of seed sources. It will implement the revitalization of the planting industry with greater strength and practical measures, focusing on the improvement of each variety, accelerating the filling of gaps and weaknesses, and continuously making breakthrough progress. Firstly, it will speed up the identification and utilization of germplasm resources, implement in-depth crop germplasm improvement plans, and create a batch of high-quality new germplasms. Secondly, it will raise the level of agricultural science and technology, vigorously promote organized and systematic research and breeding efforts, implement livestock and poultry genetic improvement plans, and cultivate and promote more breakthrough varieties. Thirdly, it will cultivate and strengthen leading seed companies, improve the commercialized breeding system, support companies in taking on more seed research tasks, and cultivate a group of seed industry technology-leading enterprises with international competitiveness. Fourthly, it will promote the modernization of seed base construction, optimize the layout of national seed bases, strengthen the application of advanced technology and equipment, create a number of intelligent seed production and breeding application scenarios, and enhance the level of seed supply security. Fifthly, it will strengthen the protection of seed industry intellectual property rights, promote comprehensive variety management, implement a system of substantial derivative varieties, enforce strict seed industry supervision and law enforcement, and create a favorable environment for the revitalization of the seed industry.