1. The "savior" of American soybeans
There is a widely spread soybean story between China and the United States:
The United States stole from China. How did America steal our soybeans? As far back as the end of the 18th century, there were soybean seedlings for the first time on the American mainland, but it didn't attract the attention of the American government, thinking that soybean was far less economical than other crops. Until 1929, an expert named Morse set foot on the land of China and collected a large number of soybean samples. Many farmers in China unconditionally taught Morse the planting techniques without being wary. The expert spent three years in China and collected more than 4, samples.
In 1931, Morse returned to the United States, and almost all valuable soybean varieties in China were brought back to the United States by him. At that time, China was in the war years when gunfire was raging, and it was very difficult for people to get enough food and clothing. I had no idea that the seeds and technology of soybeans had been stolen by Americans. Under the vigorous promotion of Morse, the total soybean output of the United States had already caught up with that of Japan in 1933. In 1914, the planting area in the United States was only 6 million acres, and in 1942, 28 years later, it had exceeded 1 million acres. By 1943, American soybean production had occupied more than 6% of the global market, and China's share was occupied by the United States.
In 1954, the soybean industry in the United States suffered a devastating blow from cyst nematode disease. Scientists rummaged through more than 3, germplasm resources, and finally found a local variety of Beijing small black beans collected by American missionaries from China in the early 2th century, which helped American soybeans recover. At that time, this germplasm resource from China had been stored in the United States for 47 years.
in 1956, a rare insect disaster swept across the United States, and parasites appeared in soybeans. The soybean output in that year was almost zero, which brought disaster to local soybeans. At a critical juncture, American scientists found a disease-resistant gene in wild soybeans in China and successfully survived the crisis. This bug has never appeared in American soybeans since then.
half a century later, in 2, a delegation from Monsanto Company of the United States visited China. Before leaving, the Chinese side gave each other a wild soybean seed, and Monsanto was a treasure. After returning home, he immediately detected high-yield and disease-resistant genes with the most advanced technology. Then Monsanto copied this soybean through transgenic technology, and registered 64 patents in 11 countries and regions around the world. Even China, who provided him with the research base, had to pay patent fees. Today, the United States has become the world's soybean hegemon, while China's soybean industry has almost been wiped out. Before 1995, China held more than 9% of the world's wild soybean varieties and has been a net exporter of soybeans. Now 9% of China's soybeans depend on imports.
after a hundred years of accumulation, the United States has 2, soybean materials, making it one of the countries with the largest soybean germplasm resources in the world.
the data released by the general administration of customs of China in January 221 shows that in 22, China imported 1,328,2 tons of soybeans, up 11.7% year-on-year, exceeding 1 million tons for the first time. It is estimated that another 1 million tons will be imported in 221. Mainly imported from the United States, Brazil, Argentina and other countries. On the other hand, the international soybean price has now risen to about US$ 13.65/bushel (about RMB 1.62/kg), which is 66% higher than that in March 22 and the highest level in six and a half years.
In 219, China implemented the "Soybean Revitalization Plan", the core of which was to expand soybean planting area and increase unit output. China has only 1.8 billion mu of arable land, and there are many species of one crop, which is bound to crush the output of other crops. If the unit output can't be improved, the phenomenon of "involution" of cultivated land will intensify. The unit yield of soybean is relatively low. In 22, the sown area of soybean increased by 8.25 million mu to 148 million mu, and the soybean yield was 39.2 billion Jin (about 2 million tons). According to estimates, if we want to achieve soybean self-sufficiency, at least 7 million mu of cultivated land will be planted with soybeans, and the contradiction between soybeans and other crops is very prominent!
in 22, the sown areas of rice, wheat and corn in China will be 451 million mu, 351 million mu and 619 million mu respectively. The self-sufficiency rate of rice and wheat can be maintained at 1%, and the self-sufficiency rate of corn is over 95%. In 22, the corn output will be 261 million tons, and the import will be about 15 million tons.
2. The metamorphosis of American seed industry
The United States is the largest country in seed industry and agriculture in the world. The United States is rich in natural resources, and its agricultural production is large-scale, regionalized, specialized and modernized. The planting industries such as corn, wheat and soybeans are highly concentrated, and the output and trade volume of agricultural products rank first in the world, which is inseparable from its leading modern seed industry in the world. According to statistics, the market value of crop seeds in the United States is as high as 15.8 billion yuan, ranking first in the world, accounting for about 35% of the world seed market value. Among the top ten seed companies in the world, American companies account for six or seven.
the history of the brilliant achievements of American seed industry actually does not exceed one hundred years. From ordinary farmers keeping their own seeds to the emergence of multinational groups, American seed industry has undergone profound changes and transformations. Until the end of the 19th century, American farmers, like other global counterparts who were digging in the soil, had to leave seeds from the crops of the previous year, and farmers had never heard of such a new thing as seed companies. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the situation changed, and researchers developed high-yield hybrid maize varieties.
in 1915, the certification scheme became popular in the United States, and the role of commercial seed market was expanding day by day.
in 193, the role of American private sector in the commercial market of hybrid corn seeds was significantly enhanced.
in 1944, the sales of American corn seed market exceeded 7 million dollars, and corn seed became the core business of American seed industry.
in 1965, more than 95% of corn fields in the United States were planted with hybrid seeds.
in 197, with the promulgation of the American Plant Protection Act, American seed industry entered a modern industrial era. By protecting the patent rights of new plant varieties, it greatly stimulated the enthusiasm of private companies to enter the seed market and opened the era of great merger of American seed companies.
by the early 198s, many American seed companies had been among the top seed companies in the world. Since 198s, the development of biotechnology has helped enterprises to improve their R&D capabilities and continuously promote the expansion of American seed industry. Some enterprises acquire intellectual property rights through mergers and acquisitions, avoiding high patent fees; Other enterprises are developing towards a "life science" complex based on the application of biotechnology and genetics related research. American companies such as Monsanto, Novartis and Aigefu have gained considerable market share through similar strategic behaviors.
The change in the face of American seed industry is entirely the result of large multinational companies entering the seed industry, which has laid a solid foundation for the rapid development of American seed industry, whether it is expanding the market, significantly increasing sales or abundant R&D funds. At its peak, there were more than 8 enterprises involved in the seed industry in the United States, including more than 5 seed companies. In addition to multinational companies such as Monsanto, DuPont Pioneer, Syngenta and Dow, there were also small companies or family enterprises engaged in specialized operations, as well as more than 2 related industrial enterprises such as seed coating and processing machinery. The seed market share of several multinational companies in the United States is as high as 75%, and the small and medium-sized enterprises, which occupy another 25% of the market, also have a considerable number of huge investments or technical cooperation, and their business in the world seed market is still expanding.
3. Enlightenment from the development of American seed industry
One flower and one world. The genes of plants are all contained in seeds, and germplasm resources are carriers of genetic information, which have practical or potential use value. Germplasm resources are the material basis of agricultural original innovation and the strategic resources to ensure national food security.
vertically, every industrial leap has a figure of germplasm resources; The discovery and utilization of dwarf genes in rice and wheat triggered the first green revolution. Wild rice resources contributed to the breeding and popularization of hybrid rice in China and brought about the second green revolution.
horizontally, in today's global market, whoever owns germplasm resources will have the initiative in seed industry and even agricultural competition. American Pioneer Company has the world's largest corn germplasm resource bank, and the cultivated high-quality corn varieties account for 2% of the global market share. The aphid-resistant lettuce varieties selected by Dutch Ruisiwang Company with aphid-resistant germplasm resources account for 7% of the European market share.
China is one of the centers of crop origin in the world, with vast land, complex terrain and abundant species resources. Coupled with thousands of years of farming civilization and intensive farming, it has always been at the forefront of the times. According to statistics, more than half of the main cultivated crops in the world are cultivated in China. Modern breeding technology has aggravated the "gene loss" to some extent. Once they disappear, it is difficult to re-create. The strategic significance of germplasm resources protection lies in protecting and preserving this diversity.
Liu Shuai
was born in Changsha on August 17th, 221.