HAIKOU, July 5. /TASS/. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Seed Breeding Research Center in Hainan's Sanya will play an increasingly important role in China's food security, reported China Daily newspaper on Monday, citing the local authorities.
According to the newspaper, the new research and production organization, set up in May, is actively studying the problems associated with the protection and effective use of the germplasm of cultivated plants, is working on the issues of molecular design and breeding of new varieties of seeds. "The aim of this research institute is to consolidate disparate research, to ensure cooperation between scientists struggling to solve problems alone," the publication quotes the words of the president of Seed Breeding Research Center Tang Huajun.
As the head of the academy specified, the Seed Breeding Center should contribute to the transformation of the mode of conducting research work in the field, so that, thanks to laboratory technologies, they are carried out all year round, and not depending on the season (usually from September to May —TASS). "This will allow scientists to eliminate key problems in seed production," the scientist said.
In addition to Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Seed Breeding Research Center, the activities of the new research institute will be supervised by a seed production institute located on the territory of a special innovation zone Yazhouwan (western part of Sanya). It is assumed that the breeding base located there with an area of 18,000 hectares will provide sufficient space for large-scale research.
According to official figures, the Sanya seed center has already raised $ 1.53 million in investment for six breeding projects with about 90 specialists.
Development of plant breeding on the island
Hainan plays a key role in China's seed production program. Breeding projects carried out in the province annually attract the attention of several hundred research organizations, leading universities and enterprises. They are attended by thousands of specialists from various regions of China, as well as from other countries.
According to the plans of the Chinese government, an advanced research and production complex should be set up on the island in the coming years, capable of stimulating the intensive development of agriculture country-wide. It is assumed that thanks to the facilities located on the territory of Sanya's Yazhouwan innovation zone, the authorities will be able to significantly enhance China's food security.