Theoretical horizon ｜ Strengthening the popularization and application of modern agricultural science and technology

The key to agricultural modernization is the modernization of agricultural science and technology. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader stressed that it is necessary to strengthen the popularization and application of modern agricultural science and technology and technical training, organize large grain growers and actively develop green agriculture, ecological agriculture and high-efficiency agriculture. Strengthening the popularization and application of modern agricultural science and technology is helpful to extend the innovation chain of agricultural science and technology and accelerate the transformation of agricultural scientific and technological achievements, which is an important measure to greatly improve the level of agricultural science and technology in China and promote the modernization of agriculture and rural areas. To build a strong agricultural country, we must adhere to the dual-wheel drive of science and technology and reform, accelerate the realization of high-level agricultural science and technology self-reliance, improve the system and mechanism of modern agricultural science and technology popularization and application, and strengthen the support of agricultural science and technology.

Strengthen the supply of agricultural science and technology oriented to application demand

The new round of global scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation contains new opportunities. It is necessary to keep a close eye on the forefront of world agricultural science and technology, highlight the application orientation, promote the iterative upgrading of modern agricultural science and technology, and insert the wings of science and technology into agriculture.

Strengthen the basic research of agricultural science and technology application. Facing the major strategic needs of the country and major problems in agricultural production, we will carry out cutting-edge, original basic research and major applied research. Guided by the demand of modern agricultural industry, guided by tackling key agricultural core technologies, we will focus on key areas such as chassis technology, core provenance, key agricultural machinery and equipment, synthetic drugs, cultivated land quality, agricultural water saving, etc., integrate all kinds of superior scientific research resources at all levels, build an agricultural scientific and technological innovation system with clear steps, division of labor and cooperation, and moderate competition, so as to enhance the overall efficiency of agricultural scientific and technological innovation.

Construction of agricultural science and technology application transformation platform. Focusing on the needs of rural revitalization of science and technology, we will strengthen technological research and development in modern agricultural production, equipment manufacturing, environmental improvement, food safety, etc., lay out and build national research centers and key laboratories in the agricultural field, national engineering technology research centers, etc., give full play to the role of national agricultural science and technology parks and national agricultural high-tech industrial demonstration zones in scientific research and development, incubate and transform achievements, establish a comprehensive service and technology promotion system for rural science and technology, and a specialized agricultural technology transfer service system to promote the convergence of scientific and technological elements to agriculture and rural areas.

Strengthen the innovative application of key core technologies. Promote the integration and application of agricultural technology, promote the integration of agricultural technology, the mechanization of labor process, the informationization of production and operation, the rule of law of safety and environmental protection, accelerate the construction of a technical system that meets the requirements of high-yield, high-quality, efficient, ecological and safe agricultural development, and enhance the economic, social and ecological benefits of agricultural science and technology.

Promote the deep integration of technology and industry.

The popularization and application of agricultural science and technology is a bridge between agricultural science and technology and agricultural production. We should persist in upgrading the agricultural industry with modern scientific and technological transformation, realize the two-way interaction between agricultural industry and agricultural science and technology, and enhance the competitiveness of agricultural industry.

Promote the integration and development of agricultural science and technology and primary, secondary and tertiary industries. Deploy innovation chain around the industrial chain, connect the supply chain, upgrade the value chain, develop various functions of agriculture, actively develop green agriculture, ecological agriculture and efficient agriculture, and expand new space for agricultural development. Innovate and apply deep processing technology of agricultural products to accelerate the development of healthy and safe modern food industry. Promote the application of green and low-carbon production technology, and strive to create an immersive and experiential new scene for leisure agriculture and rural tourism, and tap the ecological value of rural areas. Strengthen the application coverage of modern information technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, blockchain, artificial intelligence and 5G, and actively develop new industries and formats such as rural e-commerce, logistics and distribution, and smart agriculture.

Strengthen the main position of enterprise’s scientific and technological innovation. Promote the innovation of agricultural scientific research project management mode, popularize the mechanism of "revealing the list and taking the lead", establish an agricultural scientific and technological innovation consortium and innovation alliance with enterprises as the main body, and realize the effective docking between innovation chain and the industrial chain, innovation end and application end. Support agricultural science and technology enterprises to demonstrate and popularize agricultural science and technology innovation achievements based on agricultural science and technology parks, industrial parks and industrial bases. Innovate the interest linkage mechanism between enterprises and researchers, and encourage researchers to actively participate in enterprise technology research and development. Strengthen support for scientific and technological innovation of agricultural enterprises, set up special funds for agricultural scientific and technological support, expand the scope of application of preferential policies for adding and deducting R&D expenses, and implement relevant policies to promote the innovation and development of agricultural enterprises by reducing government procurement.

Improve the agricultural science and technology extension service system

Agricultural science and technology popularization is an effective way for agricultural science and technology achievements to reach all kinds of business entities. It is necessary to adapt to the diversified and personalized technical needs of agricultural business entities and accelerate the construction of a networked, information-based and efficient agricultural technology extension service system.

Construct a diversified agricultural science and technology service system. Strengthen the service function of agricultural technology extension institutions, encourage universities and research institutes to provide high-level scientific and technological services, widely mobilize the enthusiasm of agricultural enterprises, supply and marketing cooperatives, farmers’ cooperatives, family farms and social organizations, promote the cooperation of different scientific and technological service entities, and build a multi-complementary, open and efficient agricultural scientific and technological service network. Strengthen the construction of agricultural technology extension service system at the grassroots level, guide all kinds of scientific and technological service subjects to go deep into the grassroots level, send advanced and applicable technologies to the production line, and accelerate the transfer and transformation of scientific and technological achievements at the grassroots level.

Improve the informatization level of agricultural science and technology services. Strengthen the informatization construction of agricultural science and technology service, implement the demonstration project of integrated application of agricultural science and technology service informatization, promote the demonstration application of next-generation information technologies such as big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence in agricultural science and technology service, explore new means of "internet plus" agricultural science and technology service, improve the level of precision, intelligence and networking of agricultural science and technology service, and promote the open sharing of agricultural science and technology data resources. Take the county as the basic unit of coordinating agricultural science and technology services, innovate the allocation mechanism of agricultural science and technology services resources, and guide innovative elements such as science and technology, talents and capital to gather in the county.

Expand the contingent of agricultural science and technology extension talents

Agricultural science and technology popularization talents are active promoters of agricultural science and technology popularization and application. We should focus on opening up the "last mile" of agricultural science and technology application, strengthen the construction of agricultural science and technology popularization talents, and stimulate the endogenous motivation of agricultural science and technology innovation.

Strengthen the construction of grassroots agricultural technology extension talents. We will fully implement the special employment plan for agricultural extension services, improve the quality of grassroots agricultural technicians, and focus on cultivating a large number of agricultural science and technology leaders such as experts in farming, agricultural machinery operation, agricultural technology dissemination and agricultural management. In-depth implementation of the agricultural science and technology Commissioner system, encourage and support agricultural science and technology commissioners to lead the establishment of co-organized farmers’ cooperatives, professional technology associations and agricultural enterprises, and allow agricultural science and technology commissioners to form interest communities with business entities in the form of technical service shares, project shares and profit commission.

Improve farmers’ scientific and cultural quality. Establish an education and training system that connects short-term training, vocational training and academic education, promote farmers’ lifelong learning, and continuously improve the quality of science and technology. Give full play to the role of agricultural radio and television schools, agricultural research institutes, agriculture-related colleges and leading agricultural enterprises, guide high-quality educational resources to sink into the countryside, and promote the co-construction and sharing of educational and training resources with complementary advantages. Focusing on family farmers and leaders of farmers’ cooperatives, we will focus on cultivating a new generation of professional farmers who love agriculture, understand technology and are good at management, expand the demand for transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and effectively promote the popularization and application of modern agricultural science and technology.

(Zhang Bo is the director and researcher of the Institute of Rural Economics of the Provincial Academy of Social Sciences)