China plans to create new crop varieties of wheat, corn, soybeans and rapeseed utilizing gene-editing tools

China has released guidelines to advance biotechnological cultivation aiming to bolster agricultural technology and ensure food security. Announced last Friday, the initiative focuses on the development of gene-editing tools and the creation of new varieties of wheat, corn, soybeans, and rapeseed.

The strategic plan, spanning from 2024 to 2028, targets the establishment of “independent and controllable” seed sources for these key crops. The guidelines emphasize the cultivation of high-yield, multi-resistant varieties of wheat and corn, alongside high-oil and high-yield soybean and rapeseed strains.

This development is part of China’s broader efforts to increase domestic production of essential crops like soybeans, thereby reducing its dependence on imports, particularly from the United States. This strategy is increasingly relevant as tensions mount over potential trade conflicts.

The government’s document commits to the research and development of precise gene-editing technologies that will be protected by independent intellectual property rights. It also aims to enhance essential cultivation techniques. Additionally, the initiative includes breeding programs for high-performance livestock, such as pigs with enhanced reproductive capabilities and improved feed conversion rates, and broiler chickens that are resistant to diseases.

Source: Reuters