Seed expert aiming to feed the nation and the world

A leading scientist has been instrumental in developing more than 100 different strains of corn at his base in Beijing. Zhao Yimeng reports.

Zhao Jiuran has dedicated nearly 40 years to researching the development of new strains of corn. During his decades of activity, he has found that farmers' demands haven't changed very much. In short, they have always pursued a long-term goal of planting good seeds and excellent crop varieties.

"Farmers need new corn varieties with higher yields all the time, and they will always use and promote the best seeds," said Zhao, director of the Corn Research Center at the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences.

Agricultural research should be demand-oriented, he added, noting that the best seed varieties are those with the highest recognition among farmers.

That understanding helped when he graduated with a master's in 1986 because it prompted him to work on the front line of agricultural production in Yanqing district on the capital's outskirts.

Following the start of the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, many young Chinese, including some of the academy's graduates, chose to learn English and travel overseas for further education.

Instead, Zhao decided to conduct field research in the countryside, having been inspired to remain in China by a book about Norman Borlaug, an agronomist and a Nobel Peace Prize winner from the United States.

"He (Borlaug) gave up a well-off life in the US and traveled to isolated villages in Mexico to conduct research on wheat cultivation, with the aim of feeding a hungry world," Zhao said.

The new wheat varieties Borlaug developed improved agricultural production in Mexico, and later in Asia and Latin America

"I was touched by his story and wanted to do step-by-step scientific research in China to learn about the real needs of our country's agricultural production."

During his six years of research in Yanqing, Zhao discovered that the things the farmers needed most were good seeds and supportive cultivation techniques that were simple and effective. "They (the farmers) can raise yields without changing their farming methods or investing more," Zhao said.

In 1997, he was appointed director of the research center, with the aim of accelerating the cultivation and promotion of new corn strains.

However, in addition to a lack of funding, he worried about the shortage of germ plasm resources, which are the foundation of corn breeding.

"Developing new strains is like mining: You never obtain gems or gold without rich mines and raw materials," he said.