Wu Kongming, President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences calls for improving overall arrangements for basic research, technology R&D, support facilities, and the promotion and application of R&D results
Chinese agriculture and rural affairs 2023 Forum was held in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. The Forum was followed by the Forum on Modern Agricultural Development in China. The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences President, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, attended the event.
Wu pointed out that to achieve the goal of building up China’s agricultural strength at a faster pace, it is imperative to improve overall arrangements for basic research, technology R&D, support facilities, and the promotion and application of R&D results; coordinate the integrated allocation of systems, projects, talent, and funds; and apply advanced technologies in agriculture and rural areas to ensure the stable and safe supply of grain and major agricultural products, propel all-round rural revitalization, and achieve high-quality agricultural development.
Wu put forth the following proposals:
1) Make breakthroughs in key technologies and strive to develop a group of core technologies and products with independent intellectual property rights in areas such as seed resources
2) Stick to demand-oriented development and strengthen grassroots systems and teams responsible for agricultural technology promotion
3) Work hard to improve the overall performance of innovation systems and address challenges in agricultural S&T development such as fragmented or duplicate efforts and a low commercialization rate
4) Focus on establishing platforms and training talent, and push for building agricultural labs, observation and experimental stations, and testing bases
5) Continuously stimulate innovation, further promote the classification and evaluation of talent and achievements, and establish an institutional system with effective incentives and forceful constraints.
The forums included themed events such as announcements of agricultural achievements, presentations and high-level dialogues with academicians, exchanges among universities co-sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and a youth report on soybean breeding.
A total of five special reports were released at the forums, including
Major Progress in Agricultural Sciences in China, 2023; Analysis of China’s Global Competitiveness in Agricultural S&T Papers and Patents, 2023; Major New Technologies, Products and Equipment in Chinese Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 2023; Research Hotspots and Frontiers in Global Agriculture, 2023; and Report on Innovation in Chinese Agricultural Enterprises, 2023.
