Agriculture is the foundation of a nation, and seeds are the cornerstone of agriculture; nurturing talents preceds breeding varieties. To foster new forces for the agricultural industry and support agriculture-related students to deepen their roots in agriculture, WUHAN YAFEI SEED CO., LTD. organized a three-day study tour from January 24 to 26, 2026. Tailored for 20 university students selected for the “Born in the Same Year as Yafei” Public Welfare Student Aid Program, the Yafei Seed Youth Empowerment Growth Program integrated theoretical learning, practical experience, and cultural exploration, sowing seeds of hope for the future of agriculture with corporate responsibility.

01 Theoretical Foundation: Sowing Seeds Rooted in Agriculture

On January 25, the theoretical and practical sessions of the study tour officially kicked off at Yafei Agricultural Science and Technology Park. The students first visited the integrated breeding, propagation and promotion base of Yafei Seed. Lush seedlings in the laboratory, diverse breeding materials in experimental fields, and a wide range of distinctive vegetables allowed them to experience firsthand the scientific and technological innovation in seed research and development, as well as the practical power of “invigorating agriculture through science and technology”.

Subsequently, theoretical learning began. He Yafei, General Manager of Yafei Seed, emphasized that the seed industry, as a fundamental industry for national food security, is at a critical stage of transformation and upgrading, and “agriculture offers broad prospects for development”. Mr. Gao Guangjin, a National Advanced Worker and Researcher of Agricultural Technology Extension, shared his decades of perseverance and glory rooted in the fields with the theme of “Learning, Loving and Devoting to Agriculture for Life”. Gao Changbin, Deputy Director of the Cruciferae Research Laboratory at the Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences Vegetable Institute, delivered a special lecture on the research progress and prospects of cruciferous crop breeding.

From understanding the agricultural industry to career planning guidance, from inheriting the spirit of model workers to interpreting cutting-edge technologies, the instructors used sincere words and vivid cases to dispel the students’ confusion about the future and ignite their passion for joining the seed industry.“This study tour has given me a comprehensive understanding of breeding and a clear direction for my future career choice,” said Luo Zijing, a horticulture major from Sichuan Agricultural University.“This activity made me realize that agriculture is full of opportunities and promising, and strengthened my determination to pursue this path,” said Cao Zhengzhi, a plant production major from Northeast Agricultural University.In the theoretical classroom, seeds of ideals were quietly sown, laying a solid spiritual foundation for the young students to “strive for the development of China’s seed industry for a lifetime”.

02 Practical Empowerment: Writing Academic Papers on the Land

“Knowledge from books is superficial; one must practice to truly understand.”Right after the theoretical learning, the students entered the integrated breeding, propagation and promotion base of Yafei Seed for immersive practical experience. Guided by technicians from the R&D Department, they wore white work uniforms and personally carried out field practices for vegetable breeding and molecular experiment operations. They learned broccoli breeding techniques from Manager Zhang of the Park Production Department, feeling the power of life by touching plump flower buds. Led by Zheng Qingfeng, Manager of the Technical Department, they experienced the harvesting and processing of Yafei Wanlianqing Lacinato kale, witnessing the transformation of a seed from field to table.

Field operations, laboratory experiments, and team collaborative video creation freed the students from the limitations of textbooks and turned professional knowledge into practical capabilities. Despite the rain, their enthusiasm for exploration remained undiminished.“The obscure theoretical knowledge I learned in class has come into reality,” and “I have seen the whole process of integrated breeding, propagation and promotion of real vegetables,” the students commented. This practical session helped them deeply understand the meaning of “writing academic papers on the land” and strengthened their resolve to root in frontline work and revitalize agriculture through hard work.At the closing ceremony, students reviewed team assignments and shared their gains from the study tour. General Manager He awarded prizes to outstanding teams, analyzed market demands and talent standards in the agricultural industry, and clarified future development directions for everyone.

03 Cultural Nurturing: Drawing Strength from Historical Heritage

The study tour went beyond agriculture, aiming to nourish the spirit and broaden vision. On January 26, the students visited the Yellow Crane Tower and the Wuchang Uprising Memorial Hall of the 1911 Revolution, drawing strength for progress through cultural immersion. Overlooking the Yangtze River from the Yellow Crane Tower, the timeless poem “The sage has ridden the yellow crane away, leaving nothing but the empty Yellow Crane Tower” echoed in their ears. The beauty and profundity of Jingchu land fostered cultural confidence in the students. Wandering in the Wuchang Uprising Memorial Hall, yellowed historical materials and restored scenes told the extraordinary years of revolutionary pioneers striving for national independence and prosperity, making everyone deeply feel the responsibility of “Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation”. From traditional cultural edification to the inheritance of red genes, this cultural exploration made the students understand that agricultural revitalization requires not only professional skills but also patriotism and a sense of responsibility for the country.

The three-day study tour was short but meaningful. With the original aspiration of “nurturing talents before breeding varieties”, Yafei Seed built a growth platform through public welfare efforts, enabling students to strengthen their ideals through theory, hone their skills through practice, and draw strength from culture. They will head toward the future with the gains and touches from this study tour, injecting vigorous youthful power into the development of China’s characteristic vegetable industry and the revitalization of the seed industry. The public welfare responsibility of Yafei Seed, like a plump seed, blooms with warm and firm light on the fertile soil of agricultural talent cultivation.