The new rice breeding center uses modern and intelligent means to carry out tests of different rice. [Photo/WeChat account: ls-mnews]

The Rice Molecular Breeding Center Lishui Demonstration Base – located in the Liandu district of Lishui city, in East China's Zhejiang province – began operating recently after more than six months of construction, according to local media reports.

The facility was the outcome of cooperation between the Liandu district government and Huazhi Biotech Co Ltd, a major partner of leading Chinese scientist Yuan Longping in implementing his agricultural technologies.

Covering an area of about 6.17 hectares, it is the first of its kind in China and cost 20.5 million yuan ($3.17 million). The center will carry out tests of 331 rice varieties this year.

The base will see teams work together from CITIC Agriculture, Baidu, Wuhan University and Hunan Agricultural University, among others and has attracted the participation of more than 10 experts in the field with doctorates and master's degrees.

According to officials, the facility aims to provide a scientific basis for national examinations and the promotion of new rice varieties and modern breeding through modern intelligent devices and comprehensive systems.

To top it off, an intelligent big data central control center is currently under construction there, which will further pool data and achieve precision planting and intelligent breeding.