Agricultural Technology Innovation Process Research

China's agricultural development is facing big challenges due to lack of agricultural resources, increasing restrictions imposed by key elements and frequent natural disasters. However, there is a clear consensus as to achieving the agricultural development through promotion of agro-technological innovation, a complex process which multi organizations are usually engaged in. Therefore, theoretically and pragmatically, it would be of great importance and value to study the rules and mechanisms on how the process takes place, develops and evolves, how the organizations involved would behave as well as to explore what conditions are required and how to manage and regulate the process.1. Main Research Topics(1) The conception and features of Agro Tech innovationClarify the differences and connections in innovations between Agro Tech and other technologiesDefine the scope and hierarchical system of Agro Tech plus its features and functionsExplore the connections between an individual agro-technology and the agro-technique systemPresent Agro Tech innovation objectives, strategy and realms, based on the comprehensive analysis on innovation types, occurrence rule, innovation-induced and realizing mechanism.(2) Research in individual agro-tech and the evolution of agro-technical systemThreading through the line along which the agro tech is invented, developed and evolves, a research in agro-technology innovation was conducted with focus on the individual agro-tech and agro-technical system. Great efforts were put to the research on the evolutionary process whereby an individual agro-tech takes place, develops, spreads and improves. Another equally important study was also carried out on how the agro-technical system is formed, refined, conducted and reformed plus an analysis on its evolutionary process, types and characteristics.(3) Analyzing the behavior of Agro tech innovation carriersAgents engaged in the agro tech innovation are defined and a new standard for agro tech innovation carriers is put forward. An in-depth study was conducted to interpret the targets, codes, patterns and meanings of innovation carriers'behaviors. Issues such as how these agents interact and co-ordinate, and what effects are caused by their innovation activities and performance are explored and analyzed.(4) What factors contribute to the sustainable innovation of Agro TechFour factors that would contribute to the sustainable innovation of Agro Tech are discussed in this paper, namely the capital allocation, condition creating and process managing, with further probing into fund demand, capital allocating and cyclical using of fund in a cost-effective way. The R&D labs and teams, experimental showcase bases and the facilities and amenities for technological application were visited and studied.(5) Empirical research in agro-technology innovationBased on the observation of Tech innovation in hybrid rice varieties, especially that in hybrid rice variety of Q series-the1st superb rice variety ever cultivated along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, this paper records and analyzes the process of agro-tech innovation, from the background for the technical reformation to take place in Q hybrid rice varieties to the sampling of rice variety for a technical innovation. After studying the R&D process and regional test plans, this paper demonstrates the constructing process of technology system for Q hybrid rice varieties as well as the spreading and application of this system. The internal mechanism for variety innovation in rice was found and proved. What's more, the case of Q hybrid rice varieties proves that tech innovation in rice variety would have income effect and bring macro profits to farmers and enterprises. In this paper, income statistics are calculated to estimate the investment return in variety innovation in hybrid rice, inclusive of the total ROI (return on investment), marginal revenue, long-term marginal revenue and IRR (internal rate of return), using rice production function.(6) The construction of agro-technology innovation system and policy supportThis paper studies the innovation planning, innovation process and the achievement management, including the regulations of project planning and proposal, the process management systems which conform to the essence and laws of agro-technology innovation. Discussions are made on reforming of the agro-tech management system, establishing motivation system for innovative organizations and individuals, and designing of sustainable innovation mechanism. The government is proved to have played a domineering role in the agro-tech innovation input and new management concepts are put forth to promote the agricultural science and technology innovation.2. Main Findings of the Research(1) The agro-technology demonstrates "a mind of its own"The agro-technology refers to the methods and technologies needed for efficient production along the chain of agricultural industry, including all different types of science technology and technology of modern management, which, interacting as much as they are, combine to form a technical compound, taking into account of its complex research objects, long-term course of studying, technology utilizing subject to regional restrictions and technical achievements carrying attributes of quasi-public goods. The agro-technology is widely used to increase effective output, improve the quality of agricultural products, elevate production efficiency, expand the fields of agriculture, as well as to reduce cost and gain more profits. (2) Agro-technology innovation is a complex processThe agro-technology innovation is achieved by the engagement of a number of relatively independent organizations or individuals, each conducting its own function. The innovation, usually rolled out in multi stages, is a complex process affected by many other factors such as the eco-environment, scientific technology and the eeconomic and social development. Agro-technological innovation in a narrow sense mainly refers to the research and development of agricultural technology while that, in a broad sense, goes further to the promotion of agro-technology and consequently leads to the reforming of itself. A major breakthrough in basic theory and related technologies, a significant improvement of research methods and means, or the market demand for agricultural technology would lead to the changeover of an agricultural technology; favorable social and cultural conditions and systems, veteran R&D team, sustainable financing support and well-equipped research base would help create an agreeable environment for agro-technology innovating; while the synergy gained from the markets, the guiding government and proactive explorations undertaken by organizations stimulate the technological innovation in agriculture.(3) Key innovation carriers play a major role in agro-tech innovationThe agro-tech innovation carriers can be the governments, an institution or individual engaged in agricultural technology research, a promoter for agricultural technology or a farmer. In the process of agro-tech innovation, governments are policy makers, administrators, funds and resource providers while the agricultural research institutions and personnel undertake the research work, produce and provide agro-technological achievements. Promoters are supposed to introduce and promote agro technologies as well as provide technical support while farmers should learn and apply new technology to production and give feedback. Only good coordination and collaboration among all participating agents could guarantee a successful implementation of the technological innovation.(4) Necessary hardware and favorable social environment make agro-tech innovation possibleAn R&D base and team, an experimental showcase base and the environment for utilizing agricultural achievements make up for the essential elements to initiate an agro-tech innovation. Effective financial and material support ensures the technological innovation to be carried out. Prompt and accurate information delivery plus good teamwork between related agents would speed up the technology innovation in agriculture, boost the innovation performance and reduce the cost of innovation.(5) Process management and coordination enables a sustainable development of the agro-tech innovation Scientific planning and management sets up the tone for agro-tech innovation; accurate project management defines the scope and targets; thanks to effective process management, actions of participating agents are regulated, scientific resources being reasonably distributed, innovations being carried out steadily and all tasks along the chain being connected; strict achievements management works in favor of the protection of agricultural intellectual property rights, proper evaluation of the contribution of agricultural technological achievements, and promoting the application of the achievements.(5) The system and regulations provide fundamental assurance of support for achieving agro-tech innovationTo urge the government to fully take up the legal responsibility for investing in agricultural science and technology as well as establish a mechanism of steady financial input and healthy growth of agricultural science and technology will provide fundamental assurance of financial support for achieving agro-tech innovation. To eliminate the administrative chaos in innovation implementation. the agricultural science and technology management system should be refined. Loose management should be tightened by returning the decentralized responsibilities to the administrative department in charge of agriculture. Deepen the reform of agricultural technology system. Integrating provincial agricultural R&D institutions and technology promotion agencies will allow these two centers to be seamlessly linked together. Meanwhile, efforts extended to improve management on state-owned asset invested by the government in scientific and technological achievements and to clarify the state-owned property would benefit the society, enabling it to share the achievements. Optimizing the management system that operates in the public research and promotion institutions, and introducing the full-time contract employment system would largely increase the enthusiasm of the R&D personnel.3. New Inspirations(1) Special support and management should be given to the agro-tech innovationThe process of agro-tech innovation is complicated and takes a long period. Therefore, a steady and continuous financial support is deadly required to ensure that the agro-tech innovation be accomplished smoothly. At the same time, systems for managing public goods should be established with regard to the agricultural genetic resources, agricultural scientific data and agricultural production technology, as a way to promote the agricultural technology innovation and reduce the social costs.(2) The ways that governments invest in agro-tech innovation should be reformedGovernment should prepare to act as the principal investor in agricultural science and technology development in a long run and increase input on agricultural science and technology right now. Only when time is ready could the government retreat gradually from the agro-technological fields of non-public service, allowing enterprises to become the principal investors in this field.(3) Effective cooperation among key innovation carriers will lead to the fulfillment of agro-tech innovation and round off innovation performanceOnce the major innovation carriers achieve agreement on how they would work together and how they complement each other, innovation tasks will be carried out efficiently one after another and quality performance will be delivered, hence, an accelerating innovation process marked by improved innovation performance and a lower cost.4. Issues for Further Study(1) Apart from collaboration, the central government and the local government play different roles in the carry-out of agro-technology innovation, which currently are not explicit. Unclear division of duties and mixed responsibilities often result in a loose cooperation and repeated innovation, bringing about a poor performance. Therefore, this issue needs more attention.(2) Environment's ResponseWhen changes occur to some agricultural production elements, such as resources, social and other conditions, how will the agro-technology R&D reacts? What new challenges would arise to the technique innovation if the environment changes? These issues should be further discussed.(3) Conditions for technology application need more researchThis paper discusses some conditions to be required, yet just with a light touch due to words limit. More research should be done on the technology application conditions such as the cultivation of operating organization, restrictive conditions in technology application, and so on so forth.