A new rapeseed variety developed by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) has been widely planted in Meishan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, reporting a significant increase in yield per unit, further enhancing China's food security.
In 2024, China launched a national initiative aiming to improve per-unit yield for grain and oil crops. According to the annual statistics, the average food yield per hectare in 2024 has increased by 76.5 kilograms compared with 2023.
To further ensure domestic food security, China's "No. 1 central document" for 2025, unveiled on Sunday, reiterated the need to promote the large-scale yield improvement initiative, expand the implementation scale, and further advocate high-yield and efficient farming models. By introducing new varieties and high-density planting techniques, the rapeseed field in Meishan is among the leading models.
Compared with ordinary rapeseed plant varieties, whose best plant density is around 225,000 plants per hectare, the new variety requires a tighter row spacing from 33 to 35 centimeters to 27, thus nearly doubling the density, raising the number to 450,000.
The oil content of its seeds also reached over 50 percent, ranking among the top compared with major rapeseed varieties planted across China.
In 2024, the National Development and Reform Commission announced a new initiative to increase grain production by 50 million metric tons by 2030. Improving the per unit yield of grains and oil crops is vital to achieving the 2030 goal, while developing new varieties, and adopting new techniques, equipment, and agriculture models are critical approaches, said an expert.
"We need to increase the per unit yield, and we are capable of doing it. In view of our practical results, we should speed up efforts to sum up the experiences from the past two years of pilot projects, form a set of effective technological integration models and best practices, and transform these experiences into systematic methodologies for broader application. This will play a significant role in ensuring national food security and firmly securing China's food supply," said Zhong Yu from the Agricultural Economy Institute, CAAS.
China's new rapeseed variety increases yield, enhances food security
The statement of U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted the urgency for reforming global governance, according to a poll from China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Friday.
"I don't need international law," said Trump during an with The New York Times this week, days after the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the forcible seizure of President Nicolas Maduro. This statement perfectly captures Washington's unilateral and hegemonic trajectory. The New York Times observed that Trump's assessment of his own freedom to use any instrument of military, economic or political power to cement American supremacy was the most blunt acknowledgment yet of his world-view.
In a global public opinion poll conducted by CGTN, 93.5 percent of respondents expressed belief that the U.S., by pursuing unilateralism, has placed itself in opposition to the international community. Also, 91.7 percent think that reforming the global governance system is an urgent priority.
On Wednesday the U.S. announced its withdrawal from 66 international organizations, setting a new record for its retreat from multilateral commitments. These organizations span climate, energy, and global governance, among other fields. Trump argues that their operations run counter to U.S. national interests, sovereignty, and economic prosperity.
In response, 84.1 percent of respondents were not surprised by the U.S. move. Meanwhile, 88.9 percent viewed it as another radical step under the "America First" doctrine. In addition, 93 percent believed the U.S. approach of using international systems when beneficial and abandoning them when not severely undermines the existing international order and global fairness and justice. Also, 88.3 percent noted that the U.S. withdrawals once again expose it as an irresponsible major power, dealing a significant blow to its international reputation. Furthermore, 88.5 percent believe the U.S. withdrawals reflect its negative attitude toward global governance.
The recent episode of unilateral and bullying actions by the U.S. government has sparked widespread alarm and discontent within the international community. Washington's adherence to the law of the jungle where "might is right" is severely undermining the global governance system. In the poll, 89.9 percent of respondents agreed that multilateralism, based on coordination and cooperation, remains key to addressing current global governance challenges. Meanwhile, 94.4 percent believe it is crucial to advance the reform of the global governance system, uphold international rule of law, and enhance the effectiveness of multilateral mechanisms. Moreover, 90 percent think major powers should shoulder greater responsibility and play a more constructive role in promoting global governance reform.
The poll was conducted across CGTN platforms in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian languages, attracting 24,000 responses within 24 hours.
Trump says 'I don't need international law,' highlighting urgency for reforming global governance: CGTN poll
