The epidemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war have led to a rapid deterioration of the global food security situation, and some countries have successively resorted to food protectionism, prohibiting or restricting the export of certain types of food.
Agricultural resources have become the strategic focus, and seeds are the starting point of the agricultural industry chain, and the seed industry (ie, seed cultivation, promotion and sales) has naturally become a battleground for major powers.
The United States has been a leading "seed industry power" for decades, and China, which started late in the field of commercial seeds, is catching up.
However, with the monopoly of giants and the widespread use of genetically modified seeds, it is not easy for China to achieve "recovery of the seed industry" and even "food independence".
One of the most important genetically modified crops in the United States is cotton.
The picture shows a genetically modified cotton farm in Mississippi.
(Getty Images)
Currently, most countries only allow GMO seeds to be protected by patents, while other plant varieties are strictly protected by Plant Variety Property.
The advantages of the United States are in large crops such as wheat, soybeans, corn, and cotton. The advantages of the seed industry in Europe, such as the Netherlands and Israel, are in horticultural crops. Japan and South Korea mainly focus on small field crops and horticultural crops. "All-in-one", regardless of field crops such as corn, or self-developed flower varieties, are being fully promoted.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was emphasized that "without agriculture, there will be instability, and without grain, there will be chaos". In the global situation of tight food supply, the seed industry is even more important in the national strategy.
As the world's second largest seed demander, China's seed industry market size exceeds 100 billion yuan, but domestic breeding companies are fragmented.
In recent years, under the escalating trade war between China and the United States, the United States has imposed sanctions on China's chip and high-tech industries. Behind the seed industry are genomics technology and biotechnology, which are completely high-tech fields and involve knowledge sanctions and intellectual property issues. Therefore, China cannot but become self-reliant in terms of seed industry innovation and technology.
However, it can be seen from the issue of imported soybeans that under the situation of deteriorating Sino-US relations, China is constrained by the United States in terms of food security and even food prices.
It can also be said that promoting the development of seed-based genetic modification technology is a necessary step to feed 1.4 billion people.
Although China has a large amount of genetic modification technology and intellectual property rights, laboratory technology is not inferior to that of Europe and the United States, but field experiments and commercialization are long overdue.
(Getty Images)
For details, please read the 321st issue of "Hong Kong 01" Electronic Weekly Newsletter (June 13, 2022) "
Battle of the International Seed Industry: Who Controls Human Food Supply?"
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