Major scientific research push on improved corn and soybean varieties aims for substantive breakthroughs
On December 2, the Ministry of Agriculture held the launch meeting for the national major scientific research push on improved varieties. At the meeting, Vice Minister of Agriculture Yu Xinrong emphasized that the major scientific research push on improved varieties must clarify three major goals and tasks: breed and promote a batch of breakthrough new varieties, explore a new model of joint research, and establish a new mechanism for paid sharing of resources, and must strive for substantive breakthroughs in the major scientific research push on improved corn and soybean varieties.
Yu Xinrong pointed out that carrying out the national major scientific research push on improved varieties is an urgent need for safeguarding national food security. To safeguard national food security and ensure that the Chinese bowl holds Chinese grain and uses Chinese seed, major breakthroughs must be made in variety research. An important way to accelerate the breeding of superior varieties is to implement joint research by science and enterprise, and it is necessary to focus on corn and soybeans and explore and establish a joint research model and operating mechanism.
Yu Xinrong emphasized that goals and tasks must be clarified, and substantive breakthroughs must be achieved in the major scientific research push on improved corn and soybean varieties. This major scientific research push on improved varieties mainly has three major goals and tasks: First, breed and promote a batch of breakthrough new varieties. For corn variety breeding, the main focus is on several indicators suitable for mechanized harvesting, such as lodging resistance, density tolerance, fast dehydration, hard kernels, and loose husks; for soybean variety breeding, the main direction is high and stable yield. Second, explore a new model of joint research. Establish a new joint research model guided by an expert committee led by academicians, relying on research consortiums composed of capable corn and soybean seed enterprises integrating breeding, propagation, and promotion and advantageous scientific research and teaching institutions, and supported by three major platforms: germplasm resource exploration, new combination screening, and promising variety testing. Third, establish a new mechanism for paid sharing of resources. Study and issue management measures for the sharing of corn and soybean breeding resource achievements and benefit distribution, confirm rights for core germplasm resources, intermediate materials, inbred lines, parents, and related technologies provided by consortium member units, and clarify the proportion of benefit distribution.
Yu Xinrong pointed out that the national major scientific research joint push on improved varieties is a major measure to implement the instructions of the Party Central Committee and the State Council on seed industry work, and is a key task of the Ministry of Agriculture in the seed industry. It must be well planned and well implemented, get off to a good start and take a good first step, and strive for practical results. The building of a breeding talent team must be strengthened. On the one hand, increase talent training efforts; on the other hand, fully mobilize the enthusiasm of scientific researchers and establish channels and mechanisms for the orderly and reasonable flow of breeding talent from scientific research and teaching institutions to large seed enterprises. Resource integration must be strengthened. Relevant units must strengthen the integration of improved variety research with existing scientific research projects and related fiscal special funds, and seed enterprises must also increase self-raised funds to fully advance improved variety research. Coordination and cooperation must be strengthened. Establish and improve a good mechanism for collaborative research, and form a good atmosphere and strong synergy for jointly advancing collaborative research. Organizational leadership must be strengthened. Establish a national major scientific research joint push leading group for improved varieties, strengthen leadership, coordination, and supervision of the joint research, and conduct follow-up assessment and acceptance management of the research to ensure the smooth implementation of the research and achieve remarkable results.