In April of the previous year, 'Fengdeng', an innovative large language model for agriculture, was introduced in China, designed to serve as a comprehensive farming adviser.

It helps new farmers determine the most suitable crop varieties for their land and provides guidance on planting methodologies tailored to the specific characteristics of each site.

Additionally, Fengdeng offers recommendations on treatments and necessary nutrients in the event of crop health issues.

Developed through collaborations among the Yazhouwan National Laboratory in Hainan province, China Agricultural University in Beijing, and the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Fengdeng is notable for being the country's first large language model specifically dedicated to seed design, termed SeedLLM.

Chen Fan, a deputy to the National People's Congress and deputy director of the Yazhouwan National Laboratory, highlighted the model's advanced integration of biotechnology, big data, and artificial intelligence, emphasizing its potential in revolutionizing agricultural practices and research.

He stated that the focus on digitalization and intelligence marks a pivotal direction for establishing the 'Nanfan Silicon Valley', a project aimed at enhancing agricultural innovation in Hainan.

The term 'Nanfan' signifies a specialized breeding initiative that utilizes the warmer winter conditions of Hainan to accelerate agricultural development.

According to the Construction Plan for Building the National Nanfan Silicon Valley 2023-2030, released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Nanfan Breeding Base is positioned to evolve into a central hub for China's seed industry, focusing on research, industry advancement, and technology exchange by 2030.

Chen indicated that Fengdeng represents an initial stride towards creating an intelligent breeding model.

Plans are in place to incorporate extensive datasets that encompass genotype, phenotype, and environmental factors to establish a 'navigation system' for breeding optimal crop varieties.

Traditionally, developing specific crop varieties has been a lengthy process, often spanning decades; however, with advancements in intelligent breeding models, this timeline could be significantly reduced to just a few years.

China's recent No. 1 Central Document for the year, released on February 23, reaffirms the importance of the Nanfan Silicon Valley in the development of groundbreaking crop varieties and the promotion of biotechnological advancements in agriculture.

Chen noted the critical soybean supply issue facing China, as the country imported a record 105 million metric tons of soybeans last year, underscoring the importance of research into high-yield soybean varieties.

Last year, the Yazhouwan National Laboratory team successfully created a new salt-tolerant soybean variety that yields an average of more than 4.5 tons per hectare, significantly surpassing both China's average yield of 2.25 tons and the U.S. yield of 3.37 tons.

He referred to this achievement as a step towards greater self-sufficiency in soybean production, indicating that future breeding efforts will concentrate on enhancing average yields and optimizing traits such as high protein content and salt tolerance.

In the push towards breeding industrialization, Chen pointed out ongoing efforts to systematically align innovation chains, industrial chains, and capital chains to rapidly translate industry needs into research objectives.

Last December, the Yazhou Bay Biological Breeding Industry Alliance was formed, comprising entities such as the China National Seed Group and the Yazhouwan National Laboratory, aimed at fostering advancements in gene editing and the application of biotechnology within agriculture.

On the global stage, China is extending its agricultural research expertise.

In November, the China-LAC Sustainable Food Innovation Center was established in Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, symbolizing a significant commitment to global agricultural collaboration.

Chen emphasized China's leadership in biotechnology research and expressed hope for mutually beneficial partnerships with other nations to disseminate the advantages of its agricultural innovations internationally.