The Chairman of the Asia and Pacific Seed Association said China is an important force in addressing global seed industry challenges

Xu Dehua, President of the Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA), said at the opening ceremony of the 33rd China Beijing Seed Industry Conference on September 4 that the global seed industry is facing multiple challenges such as climate pressure, emerging pests and diseases, and market changes, and that China plays an important role in promoting technological progress in the seed industry. Xu Dehua noted that China has continuously increased investment in seed science, breeding technology, and digital agriculture, and that Beijing has also become an important platform for seed research, technology development, and industry exchange. As cooperation deepens among research institutions, enterprises, and international peers, more and more highquality local varieties are emerging. He also mentioned that artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and new breeding tools are changing the seed industry, but technology alone cannot solve the problems. Countries need to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, improve relevant regulations, and promote the responsible exchange of germplasm resources and protection of intellectual property rights, so as to foster the genuine transformation of innovative achievements into a more resilient agricultural system. This year's conference will last two days, with the theme "AI Empowers Smart Breeding, Digital Intelligence Leads the Future of the Seed Industry," and will feature multiple exchange, exhibition, and forum activities centered on internationalization, intelligence, and marketoriented development.