The great northern wilderness, known as Beidahuang in Chinese, refers to the extreme, northeastern region of China. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, hundreds of thousands of youngsters were sent to the region to help the nascent nation ensure food security, and modernize its agricultural production.
Today, a team of 17 women researchers are devoting their youth and wisdom to improving and advancing agricultural production in the region. They compose the women scientific research team at Beidahuang Jiansanjiang National Agricultural Science and Technology Park (in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province). The women's average age is 32. The team is using science and technology to ensure Chinese hold their "rice bowls" firmly in their own hands. They are also writing a new and moving chapter of Chinese women achieving remarkable feats in the new era.
An "honor wall," covered with plaques, is situated in the science and technology park. Some of the plaques read, "National March 8th Red-Banner Collective," "National May 1 Women's Pacesetter Post," and "National Civilized Women's Post." Behind each award is a story about the hard work of the women researchers.
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the park in September 2018, during his inspection tour of Heilongjiang. "China's modernization cannot be achieved without agricultural modernization, the key to which is science and technology and talent," Xi said during that visit. "More prominence should be attached to the development of agricultural technology, and vigorous efforts should be made to advance mechanized agricultural and smart farming," he added.
Xi's remarks inspired the women. For years, they have consistently regarded "growing more grain, growing better grain" as their top priority. They have closely linked their personal pursuits with the mission of ensuring national food security.
Scientific Research
Using a 500-mu (33.3-hectare) experimental area and 10,000 square meters of smart greenhouses, the team has completed more than 900 national- or provincial-level scientific research and/or demonstration projects since it was established in 2004. The team mainly conducts research in three departments: Experimental-demonstration center, achievement-exhibition center, and analytical-testing center.
The experimental-demonstration center is responsible for introduction, research, demonstration and promotion of new crop varieties, technologies and achievements, and for providing technical support to help increase farm efficiency and farmers' incomes.
The achievement-exhibition center mainly focuses on research and promotion of varieties and technologies for fruits, vegetables and flowers, and for providing variety and technical support for farm development.
The analytical-testing center is responsible for soil testing and formulated fertilization, plant-nutrient diagnosis, grain-quality analysis and various other tasks involving the entire farm operation. It also provides technical support for strengthening black-soil protection.
"Writing our theses on the vast land, leaving our achievements in farmers' homes" is the members' work philosophy, and the essence of their daily work tasks.
In the analytical-testing center, women technicians work with various glassware and chemical reagents throughout the year. Each summer, they conduct in-depth field surveys; each autumn, they brave the cold as they collect soil samples; each winter, they engage in soil testing and analyzing; and, each spring, they distribute fertilizer recommendation cards among the farmers. To date, they have tested more than 23,000 soil samples, more than 230 fertilizer samples, and more than 5,000 plant samples. In addition, they have established a rice-soil-nutrient-index system, helped save 6.5 million yuan (US $928, 571) in farming costs annually, and used precise data to protect the health of black soil.
Women in the experimental-demonstration center often wear camouflage uniforms and large straw hats as they work in the fields. Outdoor work has left their hands rough and their skin deeply tanned. The women undertake more than 50 research projects each year. They conduct variety evaluation, surveys, yield measurement and research in the fields, despite being hindered by mosquitoes, wind and rain. They often spend entire days walking in the experimental fields, and they sometimes eat all three of their meals in the fields. They have selected high-quality rice varieties suitable for local cultivation, and they have promoted 22 practical new technologies among the area residents.
Employees in the achievement-exhibition center have established a three-level service system to promote agricultural technology, from the park, among demonstration bases and demonstration households. Through various activities, like field lectures and delivering technology to the grassroots, they show and guide farmers in the use of new methods to improve farming. They have also provided technology training to more than 30,000 people, solved more than 200 practical difficulties for farmers, and ensured "scientific and technological achievements directly reach households, improved varieties and methods directly reach fields, and technical know-how directly reach the people."
Innovation Leads Way
As agricultural modernization has accelerated, the researchers have continuously pursued innovation, to empower agriculture with technology.
From "growing southern fruits in the north" to "growing eggplants on trees," the team's innovation achievements are visible in the park's smart greenhouses. The team has made breakthroughs in several key technologies, including precise temperature and humidity control, and it has introduced 65 species of southern specialty fruit trees to grow in the smart greenhouses. The vertical-plant factory, which began operating in 2024, is fully mechanized and automated. It enables "one person with one mobile phone to manage the entire factory." The factory, which uses soil-less cultivation techniques, such as hydroponics and aeroponics, realizes year-round vegetable production. "Here, we produce more than 20 batches of vegetables annually, with per-unit-area yields 30 times that of traditional farming, and the entire process uses zero pesticides. They are truly safe vegetables," Jiang Li, a technician, explains.
Rice grows on rows of metal shelves, under LED light sources, in the breeding-accelerator laboratory. The artificial-climate chamber can simulate temperature changes ranging from -20 C to 45 C. Meanwhile, the smart-irrigation system precisely controls water and nutrients, and the LED light sources can adjust spectrum and photoperiod. With everything combined, the chamber can be used to grow rice year-round. "It used to take 8-10 years to develop a new rice variety. Now, with the breeding accelerator, the cycle is halved!" says Wang Min, deputy director of the park.
The team has also improved the technology used to cultivate rice in cold regions, and it has applied the innovated technology on more than 31 million mu (2.01 million hectares) of land. The result has been an increase in rice yield, per unit, from 400 kilograms to 638 kilograms, and that has resulted in 3.9 billion yuan (US $557 million) in economic returns.
Li Ying, head of the park, has led the team in working with universities and research institutes on projects to make breakthroughs in key technologies in the fields of black-soil protection and smart farm demonstration zone construction. "The blueprint for agricultural and rural modernization, outlined at the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, provides a broad stage for women to utilize our talents," Li says. "As an organized, skilled and cohesive collective, our team members integrate our professional strengths with the practical needs of rural areas, and play significant roles in enriching farmers and empowering agriculture through science and technology. We will focus on developing smart agriculture, green agriculture, quality agriculture and brand agriculture, and we will pursue new technological breakthroughs, enhance innovation capabilities and contribute women's strength to building up China's strength in agriculture."
Blossoming on Black Soil
In 2023, a group of women volunteers was established, within the team, to support farmers and enterprises in agriculture by providing one-on-one guidance. Zhao Shiqi heads that group of volunteers. She organizes the group in conducting activities aimed at promoting agricultural development.
Zhao also organizes various publicity activities, including inviting group members and agricultural experts to share agricultural information and developments with farmers, and to answer farmers' questions. The group conducts more than 200 activities annually, on average. Over the years, it has compiled and distributed more than 100,000 technical manuals among farmers, and it has become a trusted partner of the farmers. "Young people should root their dreams in this vast black soil, letting them bloom into the most brilliant flowers," says Zhao.
The women continuously strive to upgrade their skills. For example, they use their spare time to read about the history of Beidahuang, study the essence of the Beidahuang spirit, and learn how to provide docent services. They have provided docent services to 5,000 groups totaling 200,000 visitors. Their interpretation vividly showcases how the park has used advanced technology to develop modern, large-scale agriculture.
When asked about the future, members of the team say they will continue providing comprehensive and professional services to farmers, especially in terms of agricultural policy interpretation and agricultural science and technology innovation. They also vow to use the Internet and social-media platforms to provide online consultations, training and exchange activities. They plan to regularly attend training courses, to improve their skills and service capabilities, and they are determined to play a bigger role in advancing agricultural and rural modernization.
The researchers are tough and hardworking, and they, like other young people, are full of vigor. For example, they love singing, playing badminton and practicing yoga. "I believe in doing work and scientific research, I must be serious. In life, I can also be lovely and lively," says Wang Chongyang, a team member. Another member, Jiang Li, says, "I feel happy working in the agriculture industry. Seeing the crops grow from seedlings to maturity gives me a great sense of accomplishment." Many of her colleagues share her sentiments.
From the laboratory to the fields, from data analysis to technology promotion, and from scientific breakthroughs to science popularization and training, the women of the scientific research team at Beidahuang Jiansanjiang National Agricultural Science and Technology Park have given years of unwavering dedication to help develop agriculture through science and technology.
As the new journey of building up China's strength in agriculture proceeds, the women will continue developing the black soil with their youth and wisdom, filling the Chinese "rice bowl" with high-quality "Chinese grain," and making greater contributions to safeguarding the nation's food security.
Photos from Interviewees
(Women of China English Monthly March 2026)
Editor: Wang Shasha
