On a crisp February day in 2025, an aerial drone captured a striking image in Shuangkou town, Tianjin. A seeder, equipped with the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, was meticulously sowing seeds in a field, marking the beginning of the Rain Water solar term. This scene is not just a snapshot of modern agriculture in China; it’s a testament to the country’s ambitious plans for agricultural innovation.
China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has unveiled a comprehensive set of guidelines, outlining 10 key areas for agricultural technology innovation from 2024 to 2028. These guidelines are a roadmap for China’s agricultural future, focusing on breeding new crop varieties, improving arable land quality, developing green and low-carbon agriculture, and promoting rural development.
The guidelines emphasize the development of rapid soil testing technologies to support smart agriculture. This includes creating a digital soil information system, a multidimensional soil monitoring network, and farmland evaluation and early warning platforms. These technologies will enable farmers to make data-driven decisions, optimizing crop yields and resource use.
Innovation in green and low-carbon agriculture is another critical focus. The guidelines aim to control agricultural non-point source pollution, advance climate-adaptive farming, and promote ecological circular agriculture. This shift towards sustainability is not just about environmental stewardship; it’s about ensuring the long-term viability of China’s agricultural sector.
Zhang Xingwang, vice-minister of agriculture and rural affairs, highlighted the significant progress China has made in agricultural science and technology. The contribution rate of agricultural science and technology progress has surpassed 63 percent, placing China at the global forefront. To build on this success, efforts will focus on building a robust technology system for farmland conservation and restoring degraded land, including black soil and saline-alkali land.
In 2024, over 400 million mu (26.67 million hectares) of black soil was restored, and a nationwide ‘physical examination’ of soil was conducted, with 3.11 million samples collected from 2.87 million sites. This extensive data collection will inform future agricultural practices, ensuring that China’s farmland remains productive and sustainable.
Chen Bangxun, director of the ministry’s development and planning department, emphasized the importance of protecting and using arable land and water resources effectively. The guidelines call for promoting clean agricultural production, launching pilot projects in green and circular farming, and integrating ecological practices into agricultural industries.
The guidelines also highlight the need for technology-driven solutions to improve rural living conditions, develop sustainable rural industries, and enhance rural governance. Modern agricultural and rural development models will be tailored to regional economic conditions, ensuring that innovation is locally relevant and impactful.
Key digital technologies will be developed to improve rural governance, expand healthcare access, and extend agricultural industrial chains. The integration and sharing of information and data will be promoted to accelerate rural digital transformation. This digital push is not just about modernization; it’s about creating a more resilient and adaptive agricultural sector.
Zhang Xingwang emphasized that the key to agricultural modernization lies in the modernization of agricultural science and technology. The next steps involve enhancing the agricultural science and technology innovation system, nurturing leading and fast-growing agricultural technology enterprises, and accelerating the application of scientific achievements. This strategic approach will provide strong technological support for building a strong agricultural nation.
As China continues to innovate and adapt, the aerial drone photo from Shuangkou town serves as a powerful symbol of the country’s commitment to agricultural progress. It’s a reminder that the future of farming is not just about traditional practices; it’s about embracing technology, sustainability, and innovation.
