In recent decades, global agriculture has accelerated specialization and intensification in pursuit of economies of scale, and China is no exception. Driven by the reform and opening-up policies, agricultural production efficiency has improved, but it has also come at an environmental cost: excessive use of chemical fertilizers, low utilization rate of livestock and poultry manure, leading to water eutrophication, air pollution and other issues.

A comprehensive review in Biological Diversity maps two decades of breakthroughs in Chinese seed plant genetic diversity research, links advances to sequencing technology, identifies key threats from climate change and habitat loss, and proposes a clear agenda to integrate genetics into global biodiversity conservation.

New research redefines the role of botanic gardens as vital healing spaces for human health and planetary conservation.