On February 29, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) announced the country's top 10 science advances in 2023, which included the discovery of a gene that promotes saline-alkali tolerance in crops. Syngenta Group played an important role in this significant breakthrough.

The research team utilized sorghum varieties from the saline and alkaline soil in the Sahel region of Africa. They identified and cloned the major gene AT1, which is closely associated with saline and alkaline tolerance. The team also uncovered the mechanism through which this gene enhances saline and alkaline tolerance in plants.

Field experiments demonstrated that crops modified with AT1 exhibited remarkable improvements in saline and alkaline tolerance. The discovery of AT1 represents a significant breakthrough in China's research on increased saline and alkaline tolerance. It offers valuable insights for the effective utilization of saline and alkaline soil and the assurance of food security.

The NSFC organized the selection of the top 10 science advances in China to highlight significant advancements in basic research in the country.

Over 600 published scientific research results were reviewed by nearly 100 experts from relevant disciplines, who then selected 30 achievements. These achievements were further evaluated by more than 2,100 experts in basic research, including academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, who were invited to vote on the top 10 major scientific research achievements.