Zhangye gains national rights for 40 corn varieties

Three corn seed enterprises in Zhangye, Gansu province, have obtained national plant variety rights for 40 corn varieties, according to a recent announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The varieties were among 2,843 new plant varieties from 98 genera and species nationwide authorized this year.

Since 2022, Zhangye has secured rights to a total of 205 corn varieties, boosting innovation within Northwest China's corn seed industry.

As a core national corn seed production base, Zhangye has built a commercial breeding system that integrates enterprise-university research collaboration and independent breeding.

The city has established 7 high-end research platforms, 11 specialized breeding institutions, and 13 standardized breeding bases, involving over 400 researchers.

To date, 661 corn varieties from Zhangye have been approved, including 207 at the national level and 454 at the provincial level, placing the city at the forefront of corn breeding in Northwest China.

An official from the Zhangye agriculture and rural affairs bureau said that the rights to the 205 varieties reflect the sector's transition from quantity accumulation to quality improvement.

This enhances market recognition and added value of local seeds, promotes a virtuous cycle that begins with authorized research and development, leads to commercialization of results, and fuels further innovation. This process consolidates Zhangye's role as a key seed production base.