Agricultural science and technology help the high yield of crops. by World Federation Of Chinese Catering IndustryWorld Federation of Chinese Catering Industry
How much of the world’s farmland does China hold? How large is China’s population compared to the world’s total? The answers are around 7% and 18%, respectively. Ancient Chinese people faced the continual threat of famine, while modern China worries about balanced nutrition and healthy diets. The rapid development of Chinese agriculture has given the people an abundance of food, but how did this transformation occur?
agricultural expert by World Federation Of Chinese Catering IndustryWorld Federation of Chinese Catering Industry
The key to this transformation is evident in the progression of agricultural technology. In 1988, China said, “Science and technology are primary productive forces”. The country values science and technology as the primary drivers of agricultural development. This is apparent in its attempts to foster agricultural talent, enhance seed technology, encourage facility agriculture, and increase mechanization.
Facility agriculture by Shanxi Huaxia Jindao Trading Co., LTDWorld Federation of Chinese Catering Industry
For example, Yuan Longping, the “Father of Hybrid Rice”, was a world-renowned Chinese rice breeder. His super hybrid rice, which has greatly increased rice yields, has been introduced to over 60 countries. In the 1980s, China’s hybrid rice was transferred to the USA as the first agricultural patent technology. The local farmers were astonished by Chinese hybrid rice, which generated 165.4% to 180.3% more than the US’s original high-yielding conventional rice varieties.
Seed quality is crucial for a bountiful harvest. Recently, more than 96% of China’s crops are grown from medium- to high-quality seed sources. With high-quality seeds, agricultural facilities (e.g., greenhouses and polytunnels) can precisely adjust the crops’ temperature, light, water, and fertilizer using smart technology. This innovation significantly increases crop yields and reduces carbon emissions.
millet by World Federation Of Chinese Catering IndustryWorld Federation of Chinese Catering Industry
China maintains a large area of facility agriculture, accounting for 88% of the global total. The enhanced production from facility agriculture is comparable to adding over 12.6 million hectares of farmland to China, roughly the size of nearly 18 million official FIFA soccer fields. China’s agricultural technology has also made ongoing strides in mechanization.
sightseeing agriculture by World Federation Of Chinese Catering IndustryWorld Federation of Chinese Catering Industry
Today, China is a world leader in agricultural technologies including super rice cultivation, crop breeding, livestock breeding, pest control, chemical fertilizers, hybrid cotton and soy, and more. Moreover, China’s agriculture has also evolved from a single production model to an entire industrial chain model encompassing production, processing, transportation, and consumption.
Today, China is a world leader in agricultural technologies including super rice cultivation, crop breeding, livestock breeding, pest control, chemical fertilizers, hybrid cotton and soy, and more. Moreover, China’s agriculture has also evolved from a single production model to an entire industrial chain model encompassing production, processing, transportation, and consumption.
Drunken Crab by World Federation Of Chinese Catering IndustryWorld Federation of Chinese Catering Industry
For instance, Beijing residents can buy fresh hairy crabs, a delicacy from Jiangsu, thousands of miles away, on their cell phones during their morning subway commute. They can have the crabs delivered to their doorstep in the evening through a convenient logistics network.
A view of the countryside by World Federation Of Chinese Catering IndustryWorld Federation of Chinese Catering Industry
Going to the countryside has become a new way for many urban dwellers to spend their vacations. They can admire the natural beauty, savor farm-fresh food, pick fruits and vegetables, or stay at a rural bed and breakfast for a few days.
Small cities in southern China by World Federation Of Chinese Catering IndustryWorld Federation of Chinese Catering Industry
There is a common saying that “clear waters and green mountains are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver.” Green, low-carbon, smart, and scientific will be the new labels for China’s agricultural development in the future. Chinese agricultural workers continue to inherit the agricultural spirit of the previous millennia and work with their counterparts in other countries to foster the sustained development of global agriculture.
Sources:
The State Council of the People's Republic of China ((www.gov.cn).
2030 China Agricultural Innovation Outlook Report, 2022.
