The Ministry of Science and Technology recently approved the plan to locate the National Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Technological Innovation Center in Hunan, according to the Hunan Department of Science and Technology. It is one of the first three national technological innovation centers in the agricultural field.

The center will be started by the Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center. It will be co-constructed by the Hainan University and the Qingdao Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Research and Development Center. Eleven educational and research institutions will participate, including Guangdong Ocean University, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hunan Agricultural University, Sanya Sci-Tech Academy of Hainan National Breeding and Multiplication, Hunan University, and Yuan Longping High-tech Agriculture Co., Ltd.

It will leverage Hunan’s innovative leadership in rice breeding and focus on key technologies related to heterosis, gene research and breeding, and new species utilization for saline-alkali tolerant rice. A complete sci-tech platform and research and development system will be established to support key technology research. By 2030, the center will have bred 10 to 15 new rice species adaptable to different saline-alkali areas. It will be planted for 100 million mu (about 6.7 million ha.), across China, with a yield per mu exceeding 300 kg. The technology will also benefit Southeast Asian and Africa countries along the “Belt and Road”.

The center will provide technological support to implementing the national strategy of sustainable farmland use and innovative application of agricultural technology, and ensuring food safety and ecological security.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui 

Chinese source: hunantoday