In early spring, the winter wheat in Lingtai County, Pingliang City, Gansu Province, has entered the green-up stage, with waves of lush green covering the plateau fields. Recently, the results of the 2025 Gansu Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award were announced. The project "Exploration and Innovative Application of Drought-Resistant and High-Yield Elite Wheat Germplasm and Gene Resources," completed with participation from Lingtai Xinfeng Seed Industry Co., Ltd., won the first prize. This honor vividly demonstrates Lingtai County's years of dedicated efforts in university-local collaboration and the integration of industry, academia, and research, enabling agricultural technology to move from the laboratory to the fields and take root in the Loess Plateau.
In recent years, Lingtai County has focused on its development positioning as "agriculture-prioritized," targeting technological empowerment as the main direction for modern agriculture. By supporting leading enterprises, deepening cooperation with academic institutions, and strengthening talent development, the county has forged a distinctive path for agricultural technology innovation and development.
At the green experimental fields in Sanli Village, Chaona Town, Lingtai County, several drones fly orderly in the air, accurately and evenly spraying pesticides over the wheat fields. Li Guixi, Technical Director of Xinfeng Seed Industry, crouches by the field ridge, brushing away a thin layer of soil to inspect the root growth of the wheat seedlings. This "field laboratory" carries new hope for drought-resistant, high-yield winter wheat.
In 2025, led by Gansu Agricultural University and in collaboration with relevant research institutes, Xinfeng Seed Industry, and local agricultural technology extension departments, an integrated breeding, propagation, and promotion system was established here. This formed an innovative model of "university-local-enterprise collaboration and integration of industry, academia, and research."
Yang Delong, Dean of the College of Agronomy at Gansu Agricultural University, stated, "Leveraging the advantages of our crop science discipline, we lead the identification of drought-resistant wheat germplasm resources, the discovery of key genes, the development of molecular markers, and the breeding of new varieties. Through technical training, field guidance, and the promotion of improved seeds and methods, we provide comprehensive scientific and technological support throughout the process."
"Previously, we relied on experience for farming; now, we rely on technology," said Li Guixi with a joyful expression. "Professor Yang's team provides hands-on teaching and on-site demonstration training, and they have helped us establish a breeding material bank, genuinely improving our breeding standards and broadening our horizons."
Today, Xinfeng Seed Industry has established a fully integrated breeding, propagation, and promotion chain. It owns two series, "Lingtai" and "Lingxuan," comprising seven certified varieties. Its 15,000-mu improved seed propagation base is contiguous and well-organized, producing 4.5 million kilograms of high-quality seeds annually.
Currently, Gansu Agricultural University has established core demonstration zones for drought-resistant, high-yield winter wheat in Lingtai County and Chongxin County, Pingliang City. Key new varieties such as Longjian 116, Lingtai No. 4, and Lingxuan No. 7 are being promoted, with over 5,000 mu of improved seed propagation bases established.
In the two apple trial demonstration centers in Fengjiabao Village, Dudian Town, Lingtai County, the tissue culture laboratory is brightly lit, and vibrant green virus-free seedlings are thriving. This site serves as both a forefront for dwarfing rootstock apple breeding and a "think tank" for the county's fruit industry technology.
In recent years, Lingtai County Green Fruit Products Co., Ltd. has signed cooperation agreements with research institutions such as Northwest A&F University, hiring 35 experts and professors to form a technical team. This provides technical guidance and talent support for the company's research and promotion across the entire apple industry chain, including seedling propagation, variety cultivation, orchard management, and more.
Supported by projects, the company has established 2,000 mu of experimental fields, demonstrating and promoting over 60 new and superior apple varieties, leveraging talent advantages to enhance the quality and efficiency of the apple industry.
Liu Hongling, Deputy Director of the Lingtai County Science and Technology Bureau, explained that in recent years, the bureau has actively built bridges for innovative cooperation, promoting deeper collaboration between more agricultural innovation entities and universities or research institutes. Relying on major scientific research projects and innovation platforms, a group of discipline leaders, chief experts, and R&D teams have been cultivated. Over 20 master's and doctoral graduates have been trained, with many graduates taking root in agricultural research on the front lines in western China, supporting regional seed industry revitalization and agricultural development.
Regarding future work, Liu Hongling stated, "The County Science and Technology Bureau will take proactive measures to continuously build effective 'matchmaking bridges' for universities and enterprises, support leading enterprises in strengthening fundamental agricultural research, generate more scientific and technological innovation achievements, and explore feasible pathways for sustainably enhancing comprehensive agricultural production capacity."
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