GUANGZHOU -- As concerns about food security push China to reduce its reliance on foreign seeds, the Switzerland-based, Chinese-owned Syngenta Group is gearing up for a nearly $10 billion initial public offering to fund the acquisition of vital seed technologies.
A paddy on the outskirts of Guangzhou growing Simiao rice, a variety promoted as a brand by local governments, has an eye-catching red Communist Party signboard in the middle of the field declaring that "the party leads rural development."
