The groundbreaking ceremony for the major national sci-tech infrastructure project takes place in OVC. [Photo/Optics Valley of China]

On Feb 27, the groundbreaking ceremony for a major national sci-tech infrastructure project for crop phenomics took place on Optics Valley Scientific Island, which is located in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC).

Academician Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, attended the event and delivered a speech.

Major sci-tech infrastructure projects are considered national treasures, as they explore the unknown, discover natural laws, and lead technological transformations.

In his speech, Ding stated that this project will become the core scientific facility of Optics Valley Scientific Island. It will lead the development of the biological breeding industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and it will play an important role in promoting the transformation and upgrading of modern agriculture.

The project is reportedly the first large-scale scientific device of its kind in China. Once completed, it will achieve the design, predictability, and controllability of the breeding process, which will provide strong support for ensuring national food security and the leapfrog development of core agricultural science and technology.