The 21st session of the Guangdong Seed Expo and the 2022 World Digital Agriculture Conference concluded in Guangzhou on Dec 13, contributing to the agricultural development in Guangdong province.

Held in a hybrid format, the events were characterized by the integration of the seed industry and digital technology, such as the metaverse.

Over 6,000 agricultural products across different regions were showcased through online panoramic VR technology. Eleven cities across the province - Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Chaozhou, Huizhou, Maoming, Zhaoqing, Yangjiang, Jiangmen and Shaoguan - joined the events online to promote their seeds, farming practices and tools. In addition, over 100 local experts in agricultural technology provided farming suggestions and solutions online.

Agricultural products exhibited at the events. [Photo/Yangcheng Evening News]

"Meixiangzhan 2" rice, "Haixingnong 3" white prawns, "Guangming 2" white-feather broilers and modern farming tools including drones, rotary cultivators and rice transplanters were on virtual display.

Gu Xingwei, director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said that the integration of agriculture and digital and smart technologies will build Guangdong into an innovative powerhouse in the seed industry and promote the high-quality development of modern agriculture.

"Guangdong will seek new opportunities for the high-quality development of the digital economy, seed industry and digital agriculture. It will also continue to contribute to the accelerated development of a strong agricultural country," he added.

An agricultural product. [Photo/Yangcheng Evening News]

Guangdong has witnessed a surge of leading digital agricultural companies in recent years, which have played a crucial role in rural vitalization.

Wen Zhifen, chairman of Wens Co Ltd, said that China's agricultural enterprises should step up independent breeding efforts to achieve self-reliance in seed technology and independent control of germplasm resources.