Gu Shengzu, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), presided over an online meeting on the innovative development of the seed industry and food security on March 18 after conducting field studies previously.

Participants from research institutions, enterprises, universities and governmental departments held in-depth discussions during the meeting, which also prepared for the CPPCC National Committee's upcoming biweekly consultative seminar on enhancing policy support for the sector.

Calling food security a matter of national significance, Gu called for greater efforts to firmly safeguard the red line of 1.8 billion mu (120 million hectares) of arable land, resolutely curb the use of arable land for non-farming purposes, and prevent any diversion of prime farmland from growing grain.

It's also important to promote the innovation of agricultural technology, advance the supply-side structural reform of agriculture, and ensure an industry landscape that features many seed varieties, multiple plant breeders, appropriate arrangement and supply-demand balance, said Gu, also executive vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association.

Gu said strong efforts are needed to strengthen the comprehensive preservation and efficient use of germplasm resources, integrate innovation in crop breeding, biotechnology and digital technology, and accelerate the creation of a pro-innovation system that is enterprise-led, market-oriented, and features deep industry-university research collaborations.

In his speech, Gu also stressed the importance of intellectual property rights protection and international cooperation to make China’s transition into a global powerhouse in the seed industry.