He wrote three articles to promote the formulation of China's first "Seed Law" | Museum Exploration Notes

Editor’s Note:

On May 30, the Chinese Scientists Museum will officially open its doors to the public. It is not only a temple of science, but also a beacon that inherits wisdom and the spirit of exploration.

Here, every exhibit and every piece of history tells the story of the selfless dedication of scientists. They take the rise and fall of the country as their responsibility and the future of mankind as their mission, fearless of difficulties, and bravely climb the peak of science.

To celebrate the official opening of the museum, we have specially planned a series of pictures and texts called "Museum Exploration", each issue telling you the story behind an exhibit.

Due to financial pressure, he was unable to study medicine as he wished, and by accident he "gave up medicine and turned to farming". However, he discovered that "medicine can cure diseases and save lives, and agriculture can solve people's problems of food and clothing, which are also major needs of life."

In July 1956, at the age of 50, he submitted his first application to join the party. Eight years later, he applied to the party organization for the second time. At the age of 75, he applied to join the party for the third time, "I sincerely ask the party to accept me as an ordinary Communist Party member, and under the direct education of the party, I will contribute my lifetime to the four modernizations and communism of the motherland."

Dai Songen is a crop breeder and cell geneticist in my country, and a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Academician). He was frail and sickly in his later years, and had two myocardial infarctions and four pneumonias, but he never forgot his original aspirations and devoted his life to my country's agricultural science, working diligently and without regrets.

On March 18, 1978, the National Science Conference was held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and the spring of science arrived. With his rich experience in studying abroad and conducting field trips, Dai Songen keenly realized the urgency of standardized management of seed work. At the "National Agricultural Academic Discussion Meeting and the Third National Congress of the Chinese Society of Agronomy" held in July 1978, he publicly proposed for the first time to standardize the management of seed work in my country, and hoped that relevant departments would quickly formulate a seed law, which attracted widespread attention from the participants.

In August of the same year, the State Council approved the establishment of China Seed Corporation, and my country's seed management system began to take shape gradually, but there was still no proposal to establish special seed management regulations.

Facing realistic challenges, Dai Songen knew that he needed to further promote the formulation of the Seed Law and promote the standardized development of China's seed industry. He formally submitted the "Suggestions on the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to quickly formulate the Seed Law"; in September, he wrote the "Suggestions on the Rapid Formulation of the Seed Law" and submitted it to the central leadership for review through the "Suggestions of Science and Technology Workers" of the China Association for Science and Technology; in November, he revised the "Suggestions on the Rapid Formulation of the Seed Law" and copied it to Wang Yougong of the Science and Education Department of the People's Daily, and it was published in February 1979.

Dai Songen's manuscript of "Suggesting the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to quickly formulate the Seed Law"

In 1978, Dai Songen's "Suggestions on the Rapid Formulation of the Seed Law"

Source: Museum of Chinese Scientists

1978, Dai Songen's "Suggestions on the Rapid Formulation of the Seed Law" Source: Chinese Scientists Museum

1978, Dai Songen's "Suggestions on the Rapid Formulation of the Seed Law" Source: Chinese Scientists Museum

These three articles not only demonstrated Dai Songen's forward-looking thinking, but also promoted the formulation process of my country's "Seed Law".

His efforts finally paid off. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, my country launched its second nationwide crop germplasm resource collection campaign, which supplemented the "big collection" at the beginning of the founding of New China and alleviated the situation of too many, disorderly and mixed seeds in the country. At the same time, the improvement and strengthening of my country's seed management work was officially put on the agenda.

In December 1981, under the advice of experts such as Dai Songen and the promotion of relevant national departments, the National Crop Variety Approval Committee was established in Beijing. In 1986, the National Crop Germplasm Bank (Old Bank) was completed. In September 2021, the National Crop Germplasm Bank (New Bank) was completed. As the world's largest single-unit and most powerful national germplasm bank, the National Crop Germplasm Resources (New Bank) can be called the "Noah's Ark" of seeds.

After gradual advancement and preparation, the Seed Law of the People's Republic of China was formulated on July 8, 2000, and officially implemented on December 1 of the same year. So far, this law has been revised three times, and has played an immeasurable role in promoting the development of my country's seed industry, ensuring food security, and realizing agricultural modernization.

Dai Songen lived his life like a seed that never stops growing. Looking back at his yellowed manuscripts, we seem to see him working hard for China's seed industry many years ago. Although he has left us for many years, the seeds he left behind have grown into fertile fields. The foresight and contributions of agricultural scientists represented by Dai Songen will also be forever remembered in the history of the Chinese nation.

References:

[1] Zhong Weihong. Working hard to ensure that China's food security is secure: Dai Songen's contribution to my country's first seed law[N]. Science and Technology Daily, 2022.12.16.

[2] Tan Guangwan, Liu Xu, et al. Academician Dai Songen’s contribution to my country’s first Seed Law[J]. China Seed Industry, 2020(02).

[3] He never forgot his original aspiration and submitted three applications to join the Party. At the age of 76, he finally became a true scientist. [OL]. Chinese Scientists, 2019.07.02.