Want to post a news? The Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences is a public research institution directly administered by the Hubei Provincial Government, with a history of over a century. Its origins can be traced back to the early 20th century, when Zhang Zhidong, then Viceroy of Huguang, established the Nanhu Agricultural Experimental Field. The academy was formally founded in 1950 as the Central-South Agricultural Science Research Institute, one of the six national regional agricultural research institutions established at the time, and adopted its current name in 1978. It mainly engages in applied research and basic research in agricultural science, carries out the transformation and application of agricultural scientific and technological achievements, and promotes agricultural development. Its research fields involve various aspects of agriculture in Hubei Province.The academy comprises 10 research institutes (centers) specializing in fields such as grain crops, economic crops, plant protection and soil fertility, animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, fruit trees and tea, agricultural product processing and nuclear agricultural technology, agricultural product quality standards and testing technology, biopesticides, traditional Chinese medicinal materials, and agricultural economics. Additionally, it has 9 administrative departments and 4 directly affiliated units. Over years of development, the academy has leveraged the province's agricultural resources and regional advantages to establish a number of leading disciplines in areas such as high-quality rice breeding, germplasm resource utilization, vegetable breeding, plant protection, biopesticides, livestock and poultry breeding, and disease prevention and control, many of which have reached nationally leading or internationally advanced levels. It has also cultivated distinctive disciplines in alpine vegetables, tea, fruit trees, livestock, and Chinese medicinal herbs, earning significant influence and recognition across the country.The academy currently has 1,721 employees, including 386 with doctoral degrees and 422 senior professional technical staff. It hosts more than 200 innovation platforms of various types, including 53 key platforms at or above the ministerial and provincial levels. Among these are 2 national engineering technology research centers, 10 key laboratories of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and 8 key laboratories of Hubei Province. Since the National Science Conference in 1978, the academy has achieved more than 2,800 scientific and technological accomplishments, receiving 43 national science and technology awards and 85 ministerial or provincial first-class awards. Notably, projects such as "Indica Hybrid Rice" and "Research and Application of Two-Line Hybrid Rice Technology" were awarded the National Special Prize. The academy has also cultivated nearly 500 important new varieties of animals and plants, such as Ezhong No. 5, Xiadao No. 1, and Xidu Black Pig. The promotion and application of these varieties and achievements have made significant contributions to enhancing agricultural efficiency and increasing farmers' income.In recent years, the academy has closely aligned with central and provincial priorities, resolutely shouldering the political responsibility of supporting the development of "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers" through science and technology. It has advanced mission-oriented, organized, and market-driven research, guided by the development strategy of "building the academy through talent, strengthening it through research, and revitalizing it through industry." The academy has thoroughly implemented the "Ten Guidelines for High-Quality Development" and vigorously carried out key initiatives such as the "Five Major Actions" and the "Double Five" project in agricultural science and technology. As a result, its scientific and technological innovation capabilities have continuously strengthened, the transfer and transformation of achievements have accelerated, the talent team structure has been consistently optimized, and support for industrial development has become more effective. The academy has thereby effectively supported the construction of Hubei as a strong agricultural province and the creation of a new-era "land of fish and rice," contributing agricultural science and technology to accelerate Hubei's establishment as an important strategic fulcrum for the rise of central China.