In Zhangjiagang, a county-level city of Suzhou, the rise of biotechnology breeding enterprises is transforming the agricultural landscape, with a single seed now linking the entire modern agricultural industry chain and driving the development of new quality productive forces in agriculture.
In 2023, Yang Chuanbao, a dual postdoctoral researcher in plant protection and horticulture from Zhejiang University's College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, brought his first innovation project to Zhangjiagang. The project focuses on virus-free seedling cultivation of high-value crops such as moth orchids and Nandina domestica, introducing new models for rapid breeding and digitalized seedling production.
Yang's ex vitro rooting technology has integrated multiple advanced techniques to address the critical challenge of transitioning seedlings from in vitro to ex vitro environments while ensuring rapid root development and survival. This innovation has significantly improved moth orchid seedling survival rates from 50 percent to over 95 percent, reduced the length of the nursery cycle by 30 percent, and extended the flowering period by one to two months. As a result, moth orchids can now bloom year-round, making them more accessible for everyday consumers.
A moth orchid farm in Zhangjiagang. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]
Another shining example is Shenyuan Grape Technology Co. Established in 1981, it has evolved over the course of four decades into the largest premium grape breeding and demonstration base in southern China. Each vine in its orchards has a unique "ID card" detailing its planting date, origin, and hybrid combination, ensuring precise breeding management.
This commitment to breeding excellence has resulted in 36 proprietary grape varieties, either registered or in the process of obtaining plant variety protection. Notably, in 2014, Shenyuan's "Black Beauty" grape was introduced to Japan, marking a breakthrough for China's private-sector grape breeding on the international stage.
Grapes planted by Shenyuan Grape Technology Co. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]
Every seed cultivated is the fruit of tireless experimentation by Zhangjiagang's breeders. Across the fields of Zhangjiagang, modern agriculture is advancing toward new frontiers, scaling new heights with each wave of innovation.