Record-Breaking Entries: The 13th DBN Science and Technology Award Ceremony and Zhongguancun Global Agricultural Technological Innovation Forum Held in Beijing

On April 18–19, the Awarding Ceremony for the 13th DBN Science and Technology Award & Zhongguancun Global Agricultural Technological Innovation Forum took place in Beijing. The event gathered nearly 800 industry scientists, leaders, and representatives from government and enterprises at the DBN Phoenix International Innovation Park, celebrating China’s achievements in agricultural technology while exploring the latest trends in agricultural technological innovation. The event was organized by DBN Group and live streamed globally.

Industry gala: The Awarding Ceremony for the 13th DBN Science and Technology Award

On the morning of April 19, the Awarding Ceremony for the 13th DBN Science and Technology Award began with the playing of the national anthem. Dr. Shao Genhuo, Chairman of Da Bei Nong Group (″DBN Group″ or ″DBN″), delivered the welcome address.

Dr. Shao highlighted that over the past 26 years since its inception, the DBN Science and Technology Award have consistently adhered to the mission of ″Strengthen Agriculture for the Nation,″ focusing on promoting technological innovation within China's agricultural sector. As one of the China’s significant privately-funded awards, it has played a crucial role in advancing agricultural technology and industry development. This year’s applications for the Award reached a record high, reflecting the vigorous development of agricultural technology in China. Dr. Shao also noted that the ″Plan to Accelerate Building up Strength in Agriculture (2024-2035)″ has set clear goals, direction, and inspiration for the sector. In the context of a global wave of innovation, DBN’s initiatives are thriving. Looking ahead, DBN will continue to implement a strategy driven by innovation, aligning corporate development with national priorities while remaining mindful of its responsibilities. Moving forward, DBN will steadfastly implement an innovation-driven strategy, closely aligning corporate development with national priorities, remembering its responsibilities, fostering collaborative innovation, striving for excellence, and making significant contributions toward building up China’s strength in agricultural by the mid-21st century.

Dr. Shao Genhuo, Chairman of DBN

Zhang Zhengwei, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, delivered a speech at the ceremony. He remarked that over its 26-year history, the DBN Science and Technology Award have witnessed significant advancements in China’s agricultural technology. This year’s award-winning achievements cover key areas such as core seed technologies and smart equipment, underscoring the vital role of technology in supporting agricultural modernization and ensuring food security. He emphasized that Beijing, as an international hub for scientific and technological innovation, is focusing on revitalizing the seed industry, promoting smart agriculture, and enhancing ecological recycling, all while fostering collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutions. He expressed hope that leading enterprises like DBN Group would take on a guiding role in inspiring young talent to pursue careers in agricultural technology and work together to build up China’s strength in agriculture.

Karel van Bommel, Agricultural Counselor at the Embassy of the Netherlands in China, stated in his speech that agricultural cooperation between China and the Netherlands has yielded remarkable results. Dutch companies have established a strong presence in the Chinese market, while Chinese investments have actively flowed into the Dutch food industry chain. The two countries share closely aligned objectives regarding food security and green transformation. He emphasized the importance of leveraging technological innovation as a bridge to enhance collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutions, as well as to facilitate transnational resource integration, to jointly address global agricultural challenges and provide practical models for building a sustainable agricultural system. He also expressed his hopes for the forum’s success in bringing together insights and fostering practical cooperation.

Karel van Bommel, Agricultural Counselor at the Embassy of the Netherlands in China

Jean Gouhie, Agricultural Counselor at the Embassy of Brazil in China, stated in his speech that agricultural cooperation between China and Brazil, founded on strategic complementarity and common goals, has evolved from trade to encompass innovation, food security, and sustainable development. In light of the dual challenges posed by global population growth and climate change, he emphasized that biotechnology is essential for enhancing agricultural productivity and ecological sustainability. He expressed his hope to strengthen cooperation with Chinese enterprises to expedite the implementation of innovative technologies, boost agricultural productivity and resource utilization efficiency, and contribute the combined wisdom and collaborative strength of China and Brazil to global food security.

Jean Gouhie, Agricultural Counselor at the Embassy of Brazil in China

Lin Hang, Deputy District Mayor of Haidian District People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, commended the DBN Science and Technology Award in her speech for its commitment to agricultural technology and innovation. She highlighted that agricultural technology is the driving force behind modern agricultural development and serves as a strategic pillar for ensuring food security and advancing building up China’s strength in agriculture. As the central hub of Beijing’s International Center for Science & Technology Innovation, Haidian District has consistently prioritized the empowerment of agriculture through technology. She hopes that DBN will deepen the collaborative innovation among industry, academia, and research institutions, strengthen cooperation with relevant platforms, and promote the industrialization of achievements to support the development of a modern green agricultural industry system.

Zhang Qing, Director of the Enterprise Innovation Service Center at the China Association for Science and Technology, emphasized in his speech that agricultural technology is the key driver for ensuring food security, promoting rural revitalization, and achieving the vision of building up China’s strength in agriculture. In light of the challenges posed by food security and climate change, it is crucial to leverage agricultural technology enterprises like DBN and foster platforms like this event for cooperation and exchange to develop new quality productive forces in agriculture. He stressed the importance of enhancing collaborative innovation among industry, academia, and research institutions to tackle ″bottleneck″ technologies and accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. The China Association for Science and Technology is committed to partnering with enterprises like DBN to optimize resource alignment mechanisms, support technological independence and industrial upgrading, and advance the goal of building up China’s strength in agriculture.

Qian Qian, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Deputy Director of the Yazhouwan National Laboratory, presented a work report on behalf of the Awards Committee and the Review Committee, announcing the award decisions. This year's awards particularly emphasizing on recognizing achievements in emerging and future industries such as biological breeding, gene editing, and artificial intelligence. Additionally, this year saw the introduction of the Youth Science and Technology Innovation Award for the first time, with winners under the age of 35 making up 27% of the total, highlighting the vitality and capability of the new generation in agricultural technology.

The 13th DBN Science and Technology Award received 680 submissions, which were rigorously evaluated by over 200 academicians and experts. In the end, 73 achievements were recognized, including 5 Grand Prizes, 18 First Prizes, 30 Second Prizes, and 20 Youth Science and Technology Innovation Prizes, with a total prize pool of RMB 10 million.

Winners of the DBN Science and Technology Award Grand Prize and First Prizes

Arieh Warshel, the 2013 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and a foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Chen Shaojiang from China Agricultural University, Researcher Qi Long, Dean of the College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering at South China Agricultural University delivered keynote speeches at the ceremony.

Arieh Warshel, the 2013 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry delivered keynote speech

Intellectual exchange: Zhongguancun Global Agricultural Technological Innovation Forum

On the afternoon of April 18, the Zhongguancun Global Agricultural Technological Innovation Forum was held grandly. Organized by DBN Group, the forum served as a global platform for agricultural technology exchange, offering insights and solutions to support China’s ambition of building up its strength in agriculture and ensuring global food security. Leading scholars from around the world engaged in in-depth discussions on the cutting-edge advancements in agricultural technology. The forum was co-chaired by Mo Hongjian, Standing Deputy Party Secretary and Vice President of DBN Group, and Tian Jianhui, Vice President of China Agricultural University.

Song Weiping, Director and President of DBN Group, stated in his speech that as a leading agricultural technology enterprise based in Zhongguancun, DBN Group focuses on market demands and has established several national key laboratories and high-tech enterprises through independent research and collaboration with top domestic and international research institutions, achieving remarkable results. Song emphasized that in light of global food security challenges and the current Sino-U.S. trade situation, agricultural technological innovation is crucial for enhancing international competitiveness. With the mission of ″Strengthen Agriculture for the Nation,″ DBN promotes collaborative innovation through the Science and Technology Award and the forum, urging joint efforts from both domestic and international partners. He noted that the forum will continue to serve as a high-level platform for academic exchange, injecting new momentum into new quality productive forces in agriculture and assisting Chinese agricultural technology in making breakthroughs in the global competition.

Zhang Yanqiu, President of the China Seed Association, highlighted in his speech that since the launch of the initiative to invigorate the seed industry in 2021, China has focused on major foundational research and key technological innovations in this sector, achieving a series of internationally recognized results. Leading enterprises like DBN Group have been instrumental in driving innovation within the seed industry. As the global seed sector is in a new wave of technological revolution, the Zhongguancun Global Agricultural Technological Innovation Forum serves as a vital platform for intellectual exchange, resource alignment, and collaborative progress. The China Seed Association will continue to fulfill its responsibilities in coordination, service, rights protection, and self-discipline, working closely with all stakeholders to build an integrated innovation system that encompasses industry, academia, and research institutions, thereby making significant contributions to the invigoration of the seed industry.

Ge Yiqiang, Chief Engineer of the China Rural Technology Development Center, stated in his speech that ″Zhongguancun″ serves as the cradle, hotbed, and flagbearer of China’s scientific and technological innovation, nurturing leading agricultural technology enterprises such as DBN Group. The DBN Science and Technology Award has inspired countless researchers to delve into key technological areas within agriculture. He emphasized that a strong agricultural sector is the foundation of a modern socialist nation, and building robust agriculture is vital for national strength. The China Rural Technology Development Center will collaborate with all stakeholders to address challenges, take proactive responsibility, promote the transformation and upgrading of traditional agricultural industries, and support the growth of emerging and future industries, thereby jointly contributing to building up China’s strength in agriculture and the comprehensive advancement of rural revitalization.

Liu Zhuqing, President of Northeast Agricultural University, stated in his speech that technological and industrial innovation is an essential pathway for developing new quality productive forces. In light of the international landscape, it is crucial to break down barriers through technology and build advantages through industrial upgrades. This is the essential way to building up China’s strength in agriculture. Liu reflected on the 30-year history of collaboration with DBN Group, starting from establishing scholarships and grants in 1995 to deepening strategic cooperation in 2022, which included joint efforts in research and talent development. He urged all stakeholders to continue prioritizing the integration of industry, academia, and research institutions, accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and support the advancement of modern agriculture.

Academician Xie Hua’an from the Chinese Academy of Sciences presented a report titled ″Technological Innovation and Food Security,″ outlining practical strategies to enhance food production capacity through biological breeding technologies. Academician Zhu Jiankang from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences provided a comprehensive overview of global trends in gene editing technology and its potential applications in agriculture. Su Haijia, Vice President of Beijing University of Chemical Technology, focused on biomanufacturing technologies, envisioning their large-scale application in green agriculture. Chen Liping, Director of the National Engineering Research Center for Agricultural Intelligent Equipment, discussed global trends in smart agricultural technologies.

As a significant event in the field of agricultural technology, this gathering not only highlighted China’s innovative capabilities but also provided new insights into the global advancement of agricultural technological innovation. China’s ″No. 1 Central Document″ for 2025 emphasized the importance of harnessing technological innovation to gather advanced production factors and develop new quality productive forces in agriculture tailored to local conditions. The ″Plan to Accelerate Building up Strength in Agriculture (2024-2035)″ reinforced that accelerating building up China’s strength in agriculture must be taken as the strategic framework guiding all efforts related to agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, positioning it as a vital component in building China into a great modern socialist country. All members of DBN are committed to their responsibilities with the mission of ″Strengthening Agriculture for the Nation.″ The company is dedicated to, aligning with national strategies and using agricultural technological innovation as a unifying force, collaborating with peers across various sectors, promoting collaborative innovation and openness for mutually beneficial outcomes, and facilitating the implementation of scientific and technological advancements, striving for achieving building up China’s strength in agriculture and realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.