China once again ranked first in the world! Three traditional farming systems, were recognized by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) into the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) list, making the country's total ownership of such title to 22 and remaining at the top of the world. The three new additions are Kuancheng Traditional Chestnut Eco-Planting System in Hebei Province, Tongling White Ginger Plantation System in Anhui Province and Xianju Ancient Chinese Waxberry Composite System in Zhejiang Province.
It is worth noting that all of the three new agricultural heritage systems, Kuancheng chestnut, Tongling white ginger and Xianju waxberry are products labelled with Chinese geographical indications (GIs). "Intellectual property rights play an important role in the effective protection, sustainability and use of agricultural cultural heritage sites. The efforts to pass on such heritage may form a synergy with the development of GIs, so as to more comprehensively explore and protect China's agricultural resources," said Li Shunde, a researcher with the Institute of Law of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, during an interview with our reporter.
Developing unique agriculture-based industry playing local strength
China, a great agricultural country, has given birth to a variety of agricultural cultural heritage sites, in addition to various GI resources that cover agricultural products and fruits. Supported by technology innovation, the implementation of standards and other measures, these "local treasures" have gradually developed into unique cash cows that drive regional economic development and fuel the country's allround rural revitalization.
In Kuancheng County, Hebei Province, locals have formed a composite production system of terraces, chestnuts, crops and poultry by building trenches and terraces to plant Kuancheng chestnut, growing crops and raising poultry in the woods. A village there named Aiyukou has achieved an annual per capita income increase of more than 1,000 yuan and a total annual income increase of over 2 million yuan by promoting the rapid development of the chestnut industry.
Wang Guangpeng, an expert from the chestnut team of the Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, noted in an interview that the inscription of the Kuancheng Traditional Chestnut Eco-Planting System onto the GIAHS list represents a strong recognition of the transformation and application of local forest and grass IPRs. "We have made sustained efforts to overcome the shortage of high-quality seed sources, one of the industry's bottleneck challenges. After grinding for over two decades, we have finally bred four drought-resistant, labor-saving new varieties featuring both high yield and sound quality. In addition, relying upon unique regional resources, we have managed to bring more benefits to farmers," said Wang.
Tongling white ginger is famous for its large size, thin peel, rich juice and less residue. It acquired GI protection in 2009. Tongling City, Anhui Province has made efforts to promote the white ginger industry as a key local business in recent years. After due study and survey, it has developed a series of policies such as the provincial standard of "Tongling White Ginger: A GI Product" and the municipal standard of "Technical Specifications for the Cultivation of Tongling White Ginger", with strengthened measures adopted to further protect the origins, germplasm resources and brands of the product.
Carrying forward traditional culture through dynamic lineage
As a living embodiment of agricultural civilization, a GIAHS like Pu'er Traditional Tea Agrosystem in Yunnan Province carries multiple values that relate to history, culture and ecology, and such rich cultural connotations keep entering into all aspects of people's lives and thoughts. It is of farreaching significance to protect the GIAHS and pass on the Chinese culture through lively lineage by means of protecting the heritage during the process of exploration, and inheriting the culture by making full use of it.
"The cultivation and protection of GIs not only help high-quality featured products enter the consumer market, but also promote the inheritance of crafts and culture. In the process of rural revitalization, GIs effectively facilitate agricultural cultural heritage, and also enrich and expand such heritage," said Xu Shengquan, director of the Jiangsu Trademark Brand Research Center.
In Xianju County, Zhejiang Province, Xianju Ancient Chinese Waxberry Composite System is not only the income source for tens of thousands of waxberry farmers, but also the cultural root and soul of the Xianju people. In order to protect this agricultural civilization, a panel has been set up in Xianju County engaged in promoting legislative work while providing guidance and support for the opening of ancient waxberry festivals. In addition, a big data center has been established to build a monitoring system for systematic ecological protection, with a digital ID card "issued" for each ancient waxberry tree. Moreover, the local government has also prepared teaching materials to promote the heritage in schools and guide the youth to take part in the protection of the ancient waxberry composite system.
"GIs have deep and intrinsic connections to traditional knowledge and intangible cultural heritage. The timehonored history of China's agricultural civilization has offered a historical and cultural foundation for the exploration and development of natural resources. In the future, China should continue to play the role of IPRs, carry forward the historical and cultural heritage associated with agricultural resources, and actively promote rural revitalization," Li summarized.