Key Areas R&D Plan — Modern Agriculture
Supports modern agriculture research in Guangdong with milestone-based funding for food safety, smart farming, aquaculture, and agri technology.
The Modern Agriculture specialty (现代农业专项) is a dedicated call stream within the Guangdong Key Areas R&D Plan (广东省重点领域研发计划), administered by the Guangdong Department of Science and Technology (GDSTC). The Key Areas R&D Plan is Guangdong's primary competitive applied-R&D grant mechanism, targeting breakthrough innovations in priority technological sectors across the province. The Modern Agriculture specialty funds applied research in areas expected to include smart farming, agri-biotech, food safety, livestock, aquaculture, and agricultural machinery, following the thematic pattern of prior cycles under the same program.
As of May 2026, the draft application guide (征求意见稿) for the 2027 cycle was published on the GDSTC website for public consultation. The formal application guide and confirmed deadlines, per-project funding caps, and specific research directions are not yet disclosed; they will be published in the final 申报指南 after the consultation period closes. Based on the umbrella program's standard management method, applicants must cover at least 70% of total project costs, with GDSTC providing the remainder as a top-up grant. Consortium size is capped at five entities, and all Guangdong-registered institutions with independent legal status are eligible; Hong Kong and Macau institutions may participate as consortium partners under Greater Bay Area provisions. Funds are disbursed on a milestone basis per the program's management regulations.
Historically, per-project awards for this type of specialty call in the Key Areas R&D Plan have ranged from CNY 5 million to 30 million depending on the project tier. The formal call is expected to open in Q3–Q4 2026 for a 2027 period of performance. Applicants should monitor the GDSTC Sunshine Platform (pro.gdstc.gd.gov.cn/egrantweb) for the finalized 申报指南 and should contact GDSTC at 020-83163931 for program inquiries.
Applied R&D in modern agriculture including smart farming, agri-biotech, food safety, livestock, aquaculture, and agricultural machinery, under Guangdong's Key Areas R&D Plan for the 2027 performance period.
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