On February 1, Xinhua News Agency was authorized to issue the "No.1 document" by the CPC Central Committee on boosting the stable development of agriculture and making sure the increasing income of peasants, opening doors to asking for loans by using patent right and trademark right as collateral.

Being the 11th ever No.1 document relating to agriculture, this year's No.1 document is also the sixth in a row.  In 2009, it is required to intensify modern agricultural material support and service system, and quicken agricultural S&T innovation pace; increase agricultural S&T input, set up agricultural S&T innovation fund, and support scientific research on core fields, key products and core technologies; accelerate the implementation of major S&T projects on the cultivation of new varieties of GMO; strengthen protection of agricultural IPRs; improve financing services in rural areas by expanding consumer credit and loans to patent and trademark pledging.

(China IP News)