How will the variety approval system reform proceed? Understanding the six considerations in one article

1. Establish a variety evaluation index system focused on varietal safety, to meet the market's demand for variety diversification. Guided by meeting agricultural production and market needs, highlight varietal safety, and scientifically and reasonably classify and establish a variety approval index system adapted to different requirements such as yield, quality, stress resistance, growth period, water and fertilizer saving, mechanized operations, and simplified cultivation.

2. Expand trial channels and increase trial capacity. Expand trial capacity for crops with relatively large application demand. National trials should highlight key regions and crop types, and reduce trial groups that cover a wide range, have particularly complex ecological types, and show overly large differences in variety performance, as well as trial groups covering only one province. Seed enterprises integrating breeding, propagation, and promotion should actively carry out trials of their own varieties. Make full use of social resources to carry out variety trials. Enterprise consortia, science-enterprise consortia, and research institution consortia with trial capabilities may carry out variety trials on their own; for special-purpose varieties such as sweet (waxy, popcorn) corn, waxy rice, and vegetable soybean, simplify trial procedures, and applicants may carry out variety trials on their own, incorporated into unified national or provincial variety trial management.

3. Improve trial plans and raise trial standards. Publicize the selection procedure for applying for approved varieties to enter trials, determine participating varieties according to the principle of fair competition, and publish application information as well as the names and units of participating varieties. In the process of formulating trial plans, fully listen to the opinions of variety approval applicants and experts. Reasonably divide ecological regions, optimize the layout of trial sites, and scientifically set trial groups and control varieties.

4. Optimize working procedures and accelerate approval speed. For varieties that have already passed approval in one province, applicants may be allowed to carry out production trials on their own in neighboring provinces in the same ecological type area and directly apply for national or relevant provincial approval or introduction. Gradually separate regional trials and production trials in spatial layout. For varieties with outstanding comprehensive traits, the second-year regional trial may be conducted simultaneously with the production trial.

5. Strengthen trial process management and ensure data authenticity. Set up open days for variety trials. During key crop growth periods, determine variety trial sites, and variety applicants may inspect variety performance on site and supervise trial quality. Organize representatives of variety applicants to participate in the harvest of regional trials and production trials. Harvest data shall be signed and confirmed by trial personnel, the person in charge of the unit supporting the trial site, and applicant representatives, and then reported immediately.

6. Strengthen organizational leadership and reinforce accountability. Trial and approval management institutions shall establish a system for variety trial and approval management personnel featuring multiple persons per post, multiple posts per person, and regular rotation, with no single post exceeding 10 years.