The Zhejiang Broccoli New Varieties Conference is held in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, on Jan 8. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

The Zhejiang Broccoli New Varieties Conference took place in Taizhou Bay New Area in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, on Jan 8. Nearly 200 experts and entrepreneurs from around the country convened to see new varieties, share achievements, and collaborate on future developments.

The conference highlighted the latest research outcomes of the domestic broccoli industry in 2024, with a total of 116 new varieties.

Taizhou is a pivotal hub for the broccoli industry in China, boasting a stable annual planting area of 160,000 mu (around 10,667 hectares). The city has innovated the development model of the broccoli industry, pioneered industry support policies such as agricultural capital and insurance, and achieved comprehensive coverage of services including seedling cultivation and agricultural machinery.

The "Tai Lyu" series of broccoli varieties of Taizhou, known for their adaptability, marketability, and high yields, have been widely adopted nationwide, with a cumulative planting area surpassing 800,000 mu (about 53,333 hectares).

Taizhou's contributions to broccoli cultivation have positioned it as a key player in national joint research endeavors.

The conference also unveiled industry support policies and featured the signing of several cooperative agreements. Post-conference activities included exhibitions of achievements, observation of new varieties and models, as well as demonstrations of cutting-edge agricultural machinery and operations.