Breeding Innovation: Executive Insights from Syngenta, Bayer and Corteva on the Chinese Seed Industry

The No. 1 Central Document (″The Document″), which is always the first annual policy statement released at the start of each year by the Chinese central government, focusing on agriculture, rural areas and farmers. Since 2004, the No. 1 Central Document has for many years consecutively laid stress on issues related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers highlighting the government’s emphasis on farming and rural development.

The Document in 2024 lays a particular emphasis on the seed breeding development by requesting ″Acceleration of revitalization of seed industry, improvement of mechanism of collaboration in research and application, enhancement of research of seed provenance-oriented technology, acceleration of selection and promotion of proprietary seed varieties urgently needed for production, integrated  pilot promotion and application of major seed varieties and acceleration of  industrialization of biological breeding.″ This is the paragraph that has attracted widespread attention and heated discussion among seed industry developing enterprises at home and abroad.

In today’s fast-changing world, the biological breeding technology is becoming a key driver to promotion of the agricultural sustainable development. Through precise gene editing and selection, the biological breeding technology is not only significantly improving the crop  yield and quality but is also enhancing crops’ resistance to insect pests and diseases while reducing the negative impact on the environment. Globally, biological breeding has become the frontier of innovation in agricultural science and technology, having attracted the close attention and considerable amount of investment from lots of multinational companies.

Jeff Rowe, CEO of Syngenta Group

″Biotechnology sits at the core of next wave of agricultural innovations across pesticide, fertilizer and seeds in the coming decade,″ said Jeff Rowe, CEO of Syngenta Group, at a recent media session in Beijing on February 1. ″We are committed to helping advance biological breeding in China, and will build on our more than four decades of global experience and expertise in this highly promising seed segment.″ 

Chen Shi, General Manager of China Seed International Seed Co., Ltd. (joint venture with Bayer)

On February 5, Chen Shi, General Manager of China Seed International Seed Co., Ltd. (joint venture with Bayer), shared views to media outlets, ″Collaboration in seed development appeared more prominent in 2023, which is regarded as good sign of a  healthy development of the seed industry. Bayer is expecting to introduce global germplasm and trait resources into China and to cooperate with Chinese companies to jointly promote the revitalization of the seed industry; participation in the industrialization of biological breeding in China will make for increased resource input and capital investment in the Chinese market.″

Zheng Ziqin, Corteva Greater China Director

Corteva is an important enterprise in the field of biological breeding. Zheng Ziqin, Corteva Greater China Director, at the 37th Chian Plant Protection Information Exchange & Pesticide and Sprayer Facilities Fair, stressed that ″Corteva’s biological breeding is concentrated on corn, in possession of a quarter of the world’s molecular breeding patents and more than 60% of germplasm resources. At present, Corteva is focusing its resources on the next-generation GMO breeding technology - gene editing technology, under which the developed varieties have already been recognized and marketed in the international market. The future GMO breeding will be focused on yield improvement, breakthroughs in drought-resistance and disease-resistance traits to respond to the challenges of extreme weather and limited arable land, and to ensure food security.″

The insights from the top management of the three companies not only demonstrate their confidence in the biological breeding technology, but also reflect their attention and commitment to the Chinese market. With the continuous technology advancement and the full policy support, biological breeding is expected to play a more important role in the Chinese agriculture in the next few years, which will contribute to the development of a green, efficient and sustainable agriculture.