On October 12th, an international science and innovation center for the seed industry was officially established in the city of Sanya at the south end of China's island province Hainan. The Center will be a platform for the exchange of information, for cooperation and for investment in matters related to the seed industry.

Aerial photo of Yazhou Bay  Science and Technology City, one of the Hainan FTP’s 11 key industrial parks.  LI XUESHI / SANYA DAILY

Earlier this year, in August, a deal was signed to establish the Center as one of the Hainan Free Trade Port's major construction projects. Over the following month, the project's creators worked to attract targeted investment from enterprises and organizations in China and around the world. At the same time, they also worked to promote global trade for seed industry germplasm resources and technologies. Although the Center is only just now being formally established, it has already signed letters of intent with five major projects and has future plans to set up an innovation investment fund for cluster investment and incubation of innovative industries related to seeds.

Already including 138 member organizations, an international association of scientists in the seed industry was also established on October 12th. Member organizations include many of China's national associations, as well as international associations, multinational enterprises, AgTech universities, and major research institutes.