Initiative to raise quality of seeds, crops

China has introduced its first batch of certified seeds into the market, marking a key step in improving seed quality and boosting crop yields. The initiative aims to raise seed standards, enhance agricultural production and strengthen the country's seed industry.

At a launch ceremony in Sanya, Hainan province, on Saturday, the National Agro-Tech Extension and Service Center awarded certification to 27 seed companies, allowing 35 varieties of certified seeds to enter the market.

"Seed certification is a standardized quality assurance system that focuses on high-quality seeds and emphasizes process management. It involves certification bodies confirming and issuing certificates and labels to prove that a batch of seeds meets specified requirements," an official from the center said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official added that seed certification is internationally recognized as a reliable method to ensure seed quality, serving as a "credit guarantee" for good seeds, a "health check" for seed companies and a "passport" for international trade.

In 2023, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued guidelines to establish a unified national seed certification system. Two certification bodies were accredited in 2024, and the first group of seed certification inspectors was registered, officially putting the system into practice.

More than 10 million kilograms of seeds from 35 varieties have been certified, according to the center. Test results show that certified seeds for crops such as corn, soybeans and rice have significantly higher germination rates and purity levels than non-certified seeds.

Certified corn seeds have shown a 4 percentage point increase in their germination rate and a 1.5 percentage point improvement in purity over single-seed sowing standards, while certified hybrid rice seeds have outperformed national standards by 8.6 and 2.9 percentage points, respectively.

Peng Xubing, general manager of Hubei Kangnong Seed Co, said the company, which specializes in research and production of corn, konjac (elephant yam) and Chinese medicinal plant seeds, plans to use the certification as an opportunity to accelerate its transformation into a modern seed enterprise integrating breeding, reproduction and promotion.

Starting Oct 1, newly revised mandatory seed quality standards will take effect, further raising seed quality requirements and standardizing labeling and usage instructions. These standards aim to enhance the quality criteria of some crop seeds, including purity and germination rate, for five cereal crops (rice, corn, wheat, sorghum, and millet) and four oilseed crops (rapeseed, sunflower, peanuts and linseed).

The new standards, which supplement the seed certification system, are expected to reinforce China's commitment to improving agricultural productivity and ensuring food security through advanced seed certification and quality control measures.