China's tech innovation drives development of new quality productive forces in agriculture

Editor's note: Chunding Li is a professor at the College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University；Yanni Zhou is a doctoral candidate at the College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University. The article reflects the authors' opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. 

China unveiled its "No. 1 Central Document" for 2025 on Sunday, outlining the priorities for further deepening rural reforms and taking solid steps in advancing all-around rural revitalization.

Agriculture serves as the foundation of national strength, while agricultural modernization constitutes a fundamental pillar of national modernization. The third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee emphasized the need to improve institutional mechanisms for the region-specific development of new quality productive forces. Furthermore, the 2024 Central Economic Work Conference reinforced this directive, stating that "technological innovation should drive the development of new quality productive forces." This provides a clear roadmap for agricultural modernization. Against the backdrop of intensifying resource and environmental constraints as well as increasing global agricultural competition, leveraging technological innovation to advance new-quality productive forces in agriculture, enhancing total factor productivity, and achieving high-quality agricultural development are essential for overcoming current challenges in the sector.

Technological innovation as the core driver of new quality productive forces in agriculture

First, achieving self-reliance and strength in agricultural technology is fundamental to the formation of new-quality productive forces in agriculture. Unlike traditional agricultural production models, new quality productive forces are characterized by technological innovation, factor reallocation, and industrial upgrading. By optimizing the allocation of key production factors—including labor, land, and capital—through technological advancements, agricultural productivity can be significantly enhanced, facilitating industrial transformation. Given the increasing complexity of the global economic environment and escalating food security challenges, strengthening autonomous innovation and achieving breakthroughs in core technologies are critical to ensuring the sustainability and resilience of agricultural development.

Second, promoting technological innovation requires strengthening agricultural technology supply and improving the efficiency of technology transfer and application. This necessitates the optimization of linkages between innovation and industrial chains, reinforcing fundamental agricultural research, and overcoming bottlenecks in key technologies. Simultaneously, policy frameworks supporting agricultural technology must be enhanced through increased fiscal investment, market-driven incentive mechanisms, and the deep integration of technological advancements with the agricultural industry. By fostering an efficient agricultural technology innovation ecosystem, the development of new-quality productive forces in agriculture can be effectively accelerated.

Modernization of agricultural equipment as a key lever for advancing new quality productive forces

The modernization of agricultural equipment is a critical factor in improving agricultural productivity and fostering technological innovation in the sector. However, given the significant regional disparities in agricultural development across China, it is essential to tailor mechanization, digitalization, and intelligent solutions to local conditions. Enhancing the adaptability and accessibility of agricultural equipment is vital for increasing overall production efficiency.

In this regard, the establishment of a modern agricultural equipment system is of paramount importance. On one hand, efforts must be intensified to accelerate the research and development of agricultural machinery, advance intelligent farming equipment and integrate precision agriculture technologies, thereby achieving comprehensive technological upgrades across the entire agricultural production process. For instance, incorporating information technology, biotechnology, and digital solutions into various stages of agricultural production—such as plowing, planting, management, harvesting, storage, processing, and distribution—can significantly enhance precision and efficiency. On the other hand, agricultural infrastructure must be further improved, with a focus on promoting region-specific smart farming equipment and optimizing the spatial distribution of agricultural technology. This transformation from labor-intensive to technology-intensive agricultural production will be instrumental in raising the overall level of agricultural modernization.

Technological innovation empowering green agricultural development and industrial upgrades

Beyond enhancing productivity, technological innovation plays a pivotal role in promoting green, low-carbon agricultural development. Modern agricultural production must achieve higher efficiency while simultaneously reducing resource consumption and environmental impact, thereby ensuring long-term sustainability. One of the primary objectives of agricultural technological innovation is to enhance resource utilization efficiency and facilitate the transition toward eco-friendly agricultural practices.

A prime example of this transformation is the application of drone technology in agriculture. In recent years, advances in battery efficiency, sensor technology, and material science have significantly expanded the use of drones in precision seeding, pest control, and environmental monitoring. These innovations have not only boosted labor productivity but also reduced the excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers, mitigating agricultural pollution and enhancing resource efficiency. This technological shift exemplifies how innovation is driving agricultural modernization while simultaneously fostering green development and strengthening the overall competitiveness of the agricultural sector. Additionally, the application of big data and artificial intelligence in agricultural management enables more accurate decision-making, optimizing resource allocation, lowering production costs, and promoting the upgrading of the agricultural industry chain.

In summary, technological innovation serves as the primary engine driving the development of new quality productive forces in agriculture and is the fundamental pathway to achieving agricultural modernization. Moving forward, it is imperative to further increase investment in agricultural research and development, facilitate breakthroughs in key technologies, and accelerate the transformation of scientific achievements into practical applications. Furthermore, regional differences must be carefully considered in advancing new quality productive forces in agriculture, ensuring that policies and technologies are tailored to specific local conditions. By strengthening agricultural industry competitiveness and advancing China's rural modernization agenda, technological innovation will continue to play a crucial role in shaping the future of sustainable and resilient agricultural development.