At the Guanshan rice research and development base of Yuan Longping High-tech Agriculture Co., Ltd. (LPHT) in Changsha, central China's Hunan province, newly bred rice varieties at the heading and flowering stage are neatly arranged in rows. Inside a smart greenhouse, 12 temperature gradients are maintained daily to conduct low-temperature tolerance tests on rice.
"Temperature is a critical factor influencing both yield and quality," said Yang Yuanzhu, the company's chief rice expert. "By simulating natural environments in smart greenhouses, we can accurately assess the tolerance of new varieties to temperature extremes, eliminate underperformers, and ensure safe, large-scale cultivation."
The company has also established AI-driven platforms for speeding up rice reproduction and breeding through whole-genome selection, boosting breeding efficiency by more than 60 percent and yielding a number of high-yield rice varieties.
Since the launch of its seed industry vitalization initiative in 2021, China has made significant investments in breeding innovation. Henan province in central China has allocated 240 million yuan ($34 million) toward joint breeding research on 16 varieties across three major categories, including crops, edible fungi, and livestock and poultry. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), 25 wheat varieties from the province were recognized as nationally recommended leading varieties.
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