On October 25, the State Council Information Office held a press conference to discuss the agricultural and rural economic performance for the first three quarters of 2024. During the event, Zhang Xingwang, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, emphasized that the modernization of agriculture greatly hinges on advancements in agricultural technology. He noted that the recent positive trends in grain and agricultural production in China are significantly attributed to the power of technology.

Looking ahead, Zhang underscored the need to further enhance the capacity to ensure stable and secure supplies of grain and key agricultural products. He highlighted that a considerable part of this potential lies in technological innovation and advances.

Zhang pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs is committed to implementing the decisions and plans set forth by the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the State Council. The ministry prioritizes agricultural technology innovation and is focused on improving the overall effectiveness of the agricultural technology innovation system. This includes refining the deep integration innovation mechanism led by enterprises, striving to overcome key core agricultural technology challenges, and accelerating self-reliant and robust agricultural technology development.

Since the National Science and Technology Conference this year, the ministry has taken further measures regarding technological innovation. For instance, a high-level youth talent forum was held recently, discussing how enterprises can play a crucial role in agricultural technology innovation and how this can be reflected in related work arrangements. Zhang stressed that enterprises should be regarded as the main players in technological innovation, and there is a strong focus on supporting leading tech enterprises to grow and thrive in agricultural technology innovation.

Zhang shared that the ministry is actively supporting enterprises in participating in significant national scientific endeavors. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan, around 51% of the entities involved in major agricultural biotechnology and key national R&D projects are enterprises. Additionally, the ministry aims to concentrate innovation resources within enterprises, integrating mechanisms, platforms, and talent to boost their growth. Notably, 15 agriculture technology innovation alliances led by enterprises have been established, along with the development of high-tech agricultural industrial demonstration zones and modern agricultural technology innovation centers aimed at harnessing corporate strength.

Moreover, Zhang stated that efforts are being made to cultivate a supportive policy environment for enterprises. In collaboration with relevant departments, the ministry is enhancing support in areas like finance, taxation, and talent incentives for companies undertaking technological challenges. They are also facilitating the listing and financing processes for eligible enterprises and have established a routine communication mechanism among relevant departments for ongoing collaboration.

Looking to the future, the ministry plans to create a database of agricultural technology enterprises. This initiative will identify firms with significant innovative capabilities and potential, allowing for targeted support in their technological endeavors. The goal is to establish a regular service connection and a “one enterprise, one strategy” comprehensive approach to address the practical challenges these companies encounter.

Zhang outlined three main approaches for supporting agricultural technology enterprises. First, the ministry will encourage enterprises to become “problem creators” in agricultural technology innovation by improving the mechanisms for aligning technology challenge demands and promoting deep involvement in significant decisions related to technological innovation. Second, enterprises will be empowered to act as “problem solvers” by accelerating the aggregation of various innovative resources and enhancing their autonomy and motivation for self-innovation. Lastly, companies will be positioned as “assessors” of agricultural technology innovations, facilitating deeper integration of scientific achievements with industry, thereby ensuring that research results effectively translate into real-world applications within the agricultural sector.