WEDZ breaks ground on seed industry project

A rendering of the Central China Branch of the National Molecular Breeding Innovation Service Platform in the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: whkfq] 

Construction on the Central China Branch of the National Molecular Breeding Innovation Service Platform began on Dec 17 in the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WEDZ). 

The 120-million-yuan ($16.44 million) facility, funded by Higentec Co, will focus on key technologies in the biological seed industry, integrating artificial intelligence with biotechnology and data technology. 

It will target Hubei province's characteristic and advantageous crops and aquaculture, establishing a modern breeding base that covers 1,100 mu (73.33 hectares) and a 3,657-square-meter biotechnological seed innovation platform.

The project is expected to be operational by the second half of next year. 

Higentec is a leading enterprise in China's molecular breeding and agricultural informatization sector, operating a national molecular breeding innovation service platform. It provides over 1,000 technical services annually to more than 800 seed industry users, covering over 240 species, including crops, livestock, and aquaculture. 

In recent years, WEDZ has been following the concept of "technology-driven agriculture” and has constructed a high-standard modern agricultural science and technology industrial park and created the Hannan Modern Seed Industry Town. This has resulted in nearly 100 agricultural technology invention patents and the cultivation of over 200 new high-yield, high-quality varieties. 

A WEDZ official has said the project will effectively accelerate the transfer of achievements and technologies to relevant fields and industries.

WEDZ will focus on the digitalization of germplasm resources, innovation in new germplasm materials, and the application of intelligent breeding technologies.