Seed development helps boost food production, academy says By WANG XIAODONG | China Daily | Updated: 2021-01-13 09:09 Share [Photo/VCG]
Improved research and development of seeds has greatly contributed to increased food production and overall food security in China over the past five years, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences said on Tuesday.
With the development of agricultural science and technology, more domestically developed crop species have been promoted, covering more than 95 percent of the total areas of crops planted in China by the end of last year, said Wan Jianmin, vice-president of the academy.
Of all the major crops, self-reliance on seeds has been achieved for wheat and rice, the two most important grains in China. Overall, promotion of superior species has contributed to more than 45 percent of the total increased grain production over the past five years, Wan said.
ONWARD, formerly known as GTX Medical, announced the enrollment of the first patient in a pivotal trial in the U.S. evaluating its ARC Therapy. The pivotal trial, known as Up-LIFT, will assess the safety and effectiveness of ARC Therapy in restoring hand and arm function in people with spinal cord injury.
ONWARD is focused on developing and commercialising innovative therapies to facilitate functional recovery of people with spinal cord injury. Driven by a mission to restore movement, independence, and health in people with spinal cord injury, ONWARD developed the ARC Therapy, delivered by implantable (ARCIM) or external (ARCEX) systems. An arc occurs when an electrical impulse bridges the gap between two conductors. ARC Therapy helps re-establish severed connections between spared neural networks and the brain through specific, targeted spinal cord stimulation, ultimately improving patients’ quality of life.