The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences holds a conference on talent growth on Monday and Tuesday in Beijing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A conference on talent growth at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences was held on Monday and Tuesday in Beijing, recognizing leading academy scientists and setting development plan over the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

CAAS President Wu Kongming said the academy will focus on fostering strategic scientists and top experts while training young talent.

The academy plans to cultivate roughly 70 more leading academicians in the next five years and develop around 80 science and research teams with global influence, Wu said.

Moreover, the academy will invest 50 million yuan ($7.9 million) each year in its Young Talent Program, selecting a group of people under 40 who have the potential to grow into leading experts, and providing them with annual funding of 600,000 yuan for scientific research.

Another 30 million yuan will be invested to encourage 30 personnel under 35 to launch pioneering and innovative research.

"By the end of 2025, the number of students at the academy is expected to reach 7,500, with 600 students from overseas," Wu said.

Since 2017, the academy has invested nearly 1.85 billion yuan in funding talent for scientific research and has added eight academicians. There are now 19 academicians at CAAS.