The proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan emphasize the integrated advancement of output and capacity, production and ecology, as well as increased yields and income growth. It calls for the coordinated development of technology-driven agriculture, green agriculture, quality agriculture, and brand agriculture, aiming to build agriculture into a modernized major industry.

Robotic breeding, smart agricultural factories, liquid nitrogen freshness-locking technology... Hefei's innovation-driven DNA is reshaping the traditional landscape of this Jianghuai granary, showcasing the vibrant momentum of modern agricultural development.

However, when looking at the broader competition, how can Hefei's agricultural brands truly achieve a "breakthrough" from conventional boundaries?

Tradition lies in its foundation. As the core area of the "Jianghuai Granary," Hefei has always firmly secured its food supply. Modernity lies in breakthroughs. Hefei is embarking on a path toward agricultural modernization through a quiet yet profound industrial transformation.

Grain production has achieved "twelve consecutive years of growth." The city's sown area remains stable at around 7.9 million mu, with total output exceeding 3 million tons, ranking 6th among provincial capitals nationwide. This contributes "Hefei’s strength" to food security in the Yangtze River Delta region.

Whoever controls seeds holds the lifeline of agriculture. Seeds are the "microchips" of agriculture, and developing new quality productive forces in agriculture relies critically on the support of the seed industry.

Over the past five years, Hefei's seed industry has maintained an average annual growth rate in sales in the double digits. In 2024, sales revenue reached 12.094 billion yuan, solidifying its position as the third-largest in the country. It is projected to reach 13.5 billion yuan in sales revenue by 2025. The export volume of high-quality rice seeds has ranked first in the nation for six consecutive years, making Hefei an important gateway for China's seed industry to "go global."

Currently, on Hefei's path to agricultural upgrading, isolated breakthroughs in technology or varieties are no longer sufficient. It is now imperative to shift toward a systematic reshaping of the industrial chain, innovation chain, factor chain, and market entities.

At present, Hefei is actively constructing a high-value industrial chain by establishing specialized platforms such as the Jianghuai Seed Industry Industrial Park. These efforts are gradually strengthening the industrial foundation and driving the industry toward medium and high-end advancement.

Hefei is focusing on the development needs of agricultural industrialization, striving to optimize land support for facility agriculture, designating key development zones for such facilities, and aligning land use planning with industrial clusters like strawberries, crayfish, and the seed industry. Simultaneously, the city has introduced detailed guidelines for land use supporting new agricultural productive forces, clarifying facility types and support methods to systematically enhance the efficiency of factor allocation and further activate the vitality of these elements.

Strengthening the industrial chain hinges on fostering stronger linkages among market entities. Industrial stability relies on close connections between leading enterprises, cooperatives, and farmers. Hefei has now cultivated 805 municipal-level or above leading enterprises, 33,000 family farms, and approximately 5,600 farmers' cooperatives.

Agricultural modernization is a transformation that requires systematic planning and holistic advancement. From the synergy of the "chain" to the forging of the "brand," and then to the leap in "quality," Hefei's path to agricultural breakthrough is clearly outlining a "Jianghuai Bountiful Landscape" where industrial revitalization drives comprehensive rural revitalization.

Source: Hefei Daily