China has completed its third national survey of agricultural germplasm resources, offering a comprehensive mapping of the country's agricultural assets and laying a foundation for food security and innovation, officials said on Tuesday.

Conducted between 2021 and 2023, the survey spanned 2,323 counties, including 332 that had yet to be covered in previous surveys, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The effort also extended into arid zones, plateaus, border regions, and areas where ethnic minorities live.

"This survey represents the largest scale, widest coverage, and most participants to date," said Liu Lihua, director of the ministry's seed industry department.

For the first time, aquaculture germplasm resources were included, with more than 920,000 aquaculture farms surveyed, according to Liu Xinzhong, head of the ministry's fisheries administration bureau.

The survey identified approximately 139,000 crop germplasm resources, including more than 63,000 related to food crops. Rice, wheat, corn and soybeans accounted for 75 percent of the food crop resources collected.

In the livestock and poultry sector, researchers mapped resources for bees and silkworms, discovering 51 new local species and rediscovering 10 previously thought extinct.

The effort also yielded 1.07 million genetic materials, while 61 endangered resources and 159 nationally protected species were brought under conservation.

China now leads the world in livestock, poultry, bee and silkworm genetic resources, said Zuo Lingling, deputy head of the national animal husbandry station.

The aquaculture sector documented 857 germplasm resources and collected 120,000 genetic materials, with Guangdong province leading in variety, accounting for 374 resources.

The findings have already contributed to seed industry innovation, with 6,238 resources applied to industry development, said Liu Xu, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

China has established the world's largest system for preserving and utilizing agricultural germplasm resources, featuring advanced facilities and management.

A national crop germplasm bank, with a capacity of 1.5 million samples, is operational, providing strategic preservation for the next 50 years.

A marine fishery biological germplasm bank, capable of holding 350,000 samples, is also in use, while a national livestock and poultry germplasm bank is set for completion next year, the ministry said.

"The results provide critical support for ensuring food security and driving innovation in the seed industry," Liu Xu said.

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