Qingdao, Shandong province [Photo/VCG]

Qingdao recently launched a three-year action plan to boost the development of the modern seed industry as part of its efforts to promote the modernization of agriculture and the countryside, and further promote reforms in rural areas.

According to the plan, Qingdao will intensify efforts to accelerate building a modern breeding system, promoting a green and healthy aquaculture, and optimizing the trade of agricultural products.

The eastern coastal city will strengthen the protection, development and utilization of agricultural germplasm resources and implement major scientific and technological projects in agricultural biological breeding.

Qingdao plans to build a State-level modern seed industrial park and a State-level digital agricultural innovation and application base by 2025, attracting 13 billion yuan ($1.95 billion) in investment.

By 2025, more than 100 new varieties developed in Qingdao are expected to be certified and registered, with the city's seed industry's annual output value reaching 8 billion yuan.

The city also plans to construct 100 smart agriculture application bases, and the city's overall development level of digital agriculture and rural areas at the county level is expected to exceed 60 percent, placing it first in the province.

In Qingdao, a municipal seed quality testing facility and a seed quality traceability supervision system will be created, as well as a seed quality and market surveillance system.

Measures are in place to promote the seed industry's digital transformation, establish a seed industry information service platform, as well as build a seed industry research and development platform and innovative breeding collaborative mechanism.

Qingdao will create a map of the city's agricultural germplasm distribution and encourage connectivity with the national seed industry big data platform.

The city will strive to bring the headquarters of domestic and international seed companies to Qingdao. It will also attract seed-related industries and enterprises that support the industrial chain.

The city strives to cultivate more than three listed seed industry enterprises by 2025, over five seed industry enterprises with an output value exceeding 100 million yuan, and more than 1,000 seed industry research and development talents.