China Completes Largest-Ever Agricultural Germplasm Survey
20 January 2025, New Delhi: In a monumental step toward bolstering food security and agricultural innovation, China has successfully completed its third national survey of agricultural germplasm resources, officials announced. Conducted between 2021 and 2023, the survey is the most extensive to date, covering 2,323 counties, including 332 previously unexplored regions, and offering a comprehensive mapping of the nation’s agricultural assets.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the survey ventured into arid zones, high plateaus, border regions, and areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, showcasing its unprecedented scope. “This survey represents the largest scale, widest coverage, and most participants to date,” said Liu Lihua, director of the ministry’s seed industry department.
For the first time, aquaculture germplasm resources were included, with over 920,000 aquaculture farms surveyed. The findings identified 857 aquaculture germplasm resources, with Guangdong province leading the nation, contributing 374 varieties. In total, the aquaculture sector collected 120,000 genetic materials, highlighting the country’s diverse aquatic resources.
In the crop sector, researchers documented approximately 139,000 germplasm resources, of which 63,000 were food crop-related. Rice, wheat, corn, and soybeans comprised 75% of these resources, underscoring their strategic importance.
Livestock and poultry resources also saw major breakthroughs. Scientists mapped bees and silkworm resources, discovered 51 new local species, and rediscovered 10 species previously thought extinct. The effort preserved 61 endangered resources and 159 nationally protected species, positioning China as a global leader in livestock, poultry, bee, and silkworm genetic resources.
The survey’s legacy extends beyond documentation. It has produced 1.07 million genetic materials and directly contributed to innovation in the seed industry, with 6,238 germplasm resources already applied in industry development. “The results provide critical support for ensuring food security and driving innovation in the seed industry,” said Liu Xu, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
China now boasts the world’s largest system for preserving and utilizing agricultural germplasm resources, supported by state-of-the-art facilities. The national crop germplasm bank, with a capacity of 1.5 million samples, is operational and is designed to secure agricultural diversity for the next 50 years. Additionally, a marine fishery biological germplasm bank, holding 350,000 samples, is fully functional, while a national livestock and poultry germplasm bank is set to be completed next year.
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