In the 15 years from 2006 to 2020, China will develop 50 new breeds of "super wheat" and raise the output capacity in major wheat production areas by 30 percent, according to a general target of China's super wheat development.

According to the target, which was set at a recent national seminar on super wheat breeding, the planting areas of the new breeds of super wheat will be over 500 million mu (about 33.3 million hectares) during the 15-year period, and the expected unit output will be 700-800 kg/mu (10,500-12,000 kg/ha).

Zhai Huqu, president of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said super wheat refers to high quality and high yielding wheat breeds, currently China's super wheat breeds are still restricted in small areas because of poor adaptability and high input.

He said the super wheat project will significantly promote China's food safety and continuable development of agriculture. So far related scientific research institutes have had necessary reserves of materials, technologies and methods, and a joint effort by different research teams will help raise China's innovative capacity in wheat breeding.

(Xinhua News Agency October 6, 2006)