Yuan Longping: Willing to devote himself to science to try to eat disease-resistant and insect-resistant transgenic rice

Yesterday morning, Yuan Longping, the “Father of Hybrid Rice” accepted an exclusive interview with Nanfang Daily (Weibo) reporter and explained the issues of public concern about genetically modified foods, farmland protection, food security, and promotion of super rice in the world.

Rice cannot survive without pesticides

Nanfang Daily: Does 900 kg of super rice contain genetically modified?

Yuan Longping: Our super rice absolutely does not contain genetically modified. At present, genetically modified insects are resistant to insects and are derived from bacteria. They are called "poison protein genes." What happens when people eat? It cannot be eaten by people. Only mice can be used for experiments. However, humans are humans and mice are mice. Everyone has doubts about the question of whether or not the disease-resistant and insect-resistant genetically modified crops can be eaten. It is entirely understandable and the state is very cautious. From the past experiment alone, there is no problem. I am willing to devote myself to science and eat the GM rice, which proves that there is no problem. I also call on young people to try and prove that it will not affect the next generation.

However, genetic modification cannot be generalized, and it is not all resistant to pests and diseases. Some of the transgenes are only for increasing yield. For example, we are investigating the conversion of the carbon 4 gene of maize, a high-efficiency plant, to rice that belongs to carbon 3 plants to increase light efficiency. According to different photosynthetic pathways, the photosynthetic efficiency of carbon 4 to carbon 3 is 30% to 35% higher. Corn could have been eaten. There would be no problem with this transgene.

Nanfang Daily: Prior to your introduction, super rice yielded more than 900 kilograms per mu, and special fertilizers contributed to it. What is the difference between super rice special fertilizer and ordinary fertilizer?

Yuan Longping: Super fertilizer has nanotechnology inside. Fertilizer utilization is higher and it is absorbed by plants. Normal fertilizers, such as nitrogen fertilizers, use only 30%. Super fat can reach about 50%, the key is here.

Nanfang Daily: At present, modern agriculture promotes the use of pesticides in large areas and is questioned. How do you see this phenomenon?

Yuan Longping: Generally speaking, rice is the most common type of plant with many diseases and insect pests. If there are only a few diseases and insect pests, then there is only medicine. At present, there is no other solution. Now try to develop some insect-resistant varieties, which may be the best way. But sometimes insect pests are very powerful, and there are no varieties that are resistant to such pests. If you do not fight drugs and rice cannot survive, what should you do? I only say that I can fight as little as possible and fight pesticides with low concentrations.

Nanfang Daily: How to balance the use of pesticides, agricultural fertilizers and the development of green food?

Yuan Longping: This argument is very one-sided. Some people say that organic foods are not applied to chemical fertilizers, and production of chemical fertilizers cannot go up. It should be combined organically with chemical fertilizers. Fertilizer is a major breakthrough in the 19th century. The output of farmhouse manure simply cannot go up, and the output of real organic products cannot go up.

Fertilizers do not pollute the environment and are not harmful to health. It only has nutrient nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and it is consistent with the three elements of starch, fat, and protein that people need.

The government collects food at high prices to increase the enthusiasm of farmers

Nanfang Daily: "Y Liangyou No. 2" produces over 900 kilograms per mu. What is the reason? Is it possible for other hybrid rice varieties to reach 900 kg per mu?

Yuan Longping: The high yield of super rice can be summed up in three main points: good seed, good law, and farmland, which must be matched. Good law is a means, fertile fields are the foundation, and breeds are the core. The per mu output exceeded 900 kg. The Ministry of Agriculture recognizes that the fine variety is the most important. The third issue is the species first, but other varieties may reach 900 kg.

At present, there are 970 kilograms of “Y Liangyou No. 2” in Guizhou. The conditions in Yunnan are unique, and Y Liangyou No. 2 produces 1,215 kilograms there. Guizhou and Yunnan have special conditions: low latitudes, high altitudes, large temperature difference between day and night, and easy grouting; and the growth period is particularly long. It takes 143 days in Hunan, where the production period is 167 days. If the growth period is long, more dry matter will accumulate. In addition, there are fewer pests and diseases.

Nanfang Daily: Why did the country not check in your organization?

Yuan Longping: That is a special case and special conditions. It can only be achieved there. In a little place like Yunnan, only Jinshashui has more than 300 acres of land to meet.

Nanfang Daily: How long does it take for Y Liangyou 2 to extend from the experiment to the country?

Yuan Longping: The promotion of new varieties can only be promoted through the approval of the Provincial Liaison Association. “Y Liangyou 2” has passed the examination and approval of Hunan provincial level. The next step is to pass national examination and approval, and then it can be promoted to the whole country. . I estimate that this year, the seeds will be produced and the planting area can reach 500,000 mu next year.

Nanfang Daily: How about the promotion of Chinese hybrid rice in the world?

Yuan Longping: Last year, we had more than 50 million mu of hybrid rice cultivated in the world. This year we can reach more than 60 million mu. The main cultivated areas are in India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and the United States.

The United States now has 6 million mu of hybrid paddy fields, accounting for 1/3 of 18 million mu of cultivated land. Last year, the United States gave us a share of 3.5 million U.S. dollars, which is about 4 million U.S. dollars this year.

Nanfang Daily: The government is actively encouraging the planting of double-season rice, but the enthusiasm of farmers for the planting of double-season rice is not high. Where are the crux of the problem?

Yuan Longping: The government proposes to plant double-season rice, but farmers are less willing. Double-cropping rice is not very efficient and labor intensity is high. At present, the yield of early rice is less than 400 kilograms, and that of late rice is about 450 kilograms. The two seasons add up to about seven hundred or eight hundred kilograms. Now, the high-yield single-crop rice production can almost reach 800 kilograms. Farmers are still willing to plant a rice crop, which is a bit simpler.

There are two solutions, we are now engaged in super early rice, super late rice, and further increase production. The early rice is more than 500 kilograms, and the late rice rice is more than 600 kilograms. Our current super rice is mainly super rice in the first quarter. Another way is what I mentioned earlier. The government purchases food at high prices to increase the enthusiasm of farmers.

1.8 billion mu of arable land must adhere to the red line

Nanfang Daily: Now that rice has exceeded 900 kilograms per mu, does this mean that the red line policy for China's 1.8 billion mu of cultivated land can be moderately relaxed?

Yuan Longping: The red line of 1.8 billion mu of arable land must be maintained and cannot be relaxed. Because the population is growing, the cultivated land will not grow. Only by increasing the yields will the needs of population growth be met. Although the current output has increased, the population has also increased. If the red line of 1.8 billion mu of arable land breaks through, it will be troublesome and the food supply will not keep up. Therefore, it cannot be said that the yields have been raised, and the red line of 1.8 billion mu of cultivated land can be broken. This is a wrong idea. As a world’s most populous country, China’s grain reserves must be able to maintain at least 100 days, and it is best to maintain it for half a year.

Nanfang Daily: Although agricultural science and technology are improving, the income of farmers has not been fundamentally improved. The price of agricultural products has also become the reason for the rise of CPI. How do you view the contradiction between the two?

Yuan Longping: The income of Chinese farmers, especially those who grow grain, is very low and their enthusiasm is not too high. The state has repeatedly introduced policies to benefit farmers and strengthen agriculture, but it is still not enough. What is the reason? Because food cannot be easily increased. Food is the foundation of the country. When it rises, everything else must rise.

However, if food does not increase in price, farmers will not have the incentive to grow grain. I often put forward a proposal: We now subsidize the benefits of farmers based on the amount of land per mu. Regardless of the level of production, even if they do not farm, they will not be able to properly mobilize the enthusiasm of the farmers. Therefore, I suggest that the Huinong subsidy should not be used as a unit of land, but should be based on production. The government purchases farmers' land at a high price, and then sells it to the market at parity. This is the best way to not only control the price of food but also increase the enthusiasm of farmers. I hope that the media will appeal more.

Nanfang Daily: There are other ways to increase farmers' enthusiasm for growing grain?

Yuan Longping: The rice production area in Hunan has consistently ranked first in the country, but rice is more valuable than it is. I also mentioned to others yesterday that rice by-product processing can be appreciated. The broken rice bran is processed into maltose and glucose. There is also the use of rice to generate electricity. Two and a half kilograms of rice can be sent to electricity once. It can be counted as a substitute for the number of tons of coal. In fact, there is great potential to be tapped. Through the deep processing of rice, the output value will increase.