Experts emphasize scientific, technological innovations in agriculture

Chinese scientists have underlined the role of scientific and technological innovations in the development of agriculture.

China will provide more quality and green agricultural products through technological advances, Han Jun, director of the central agricultural work leading team office, said Sunday at a forum held by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

He cited a project launched by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the CAS that was designed to tackle medium- and low-yield farmland and saline-alkali lands along the coast of the Bohai Sea.

"By improving grain varieties, soil and irrigation systems, the land will produce five billion kilograms more output by 2020," Han said.

Zhao Qiguo, with the CAS, underscored the role functional agriculture can play in providing healthy food. Functional agriculture, in his opinion, refers to the practice of raising the content of functional substances such as selenium and zinc in agricultural products.

"By 2020, 80 to 100 functional agricultural products are expected to hit the market, providing more healthy food for us," Zhao said.

According to Fang Jingyun, academician with the CAS, grass-based livestock husbandry is an important way to produce green livestock food. This method features planting high-quality grass and following new grassland management systems, as well as making the grass into quality fodder and feeding it to livestock.