Nation ranks top in agriculture patents

China ranked first in the world for the number of agricultural patent applications filed during the 2014-16 period, according to a report released in Beijing in late September. The report on China's agriculture-focused academic papers and patent competitiveness worldwide showed the country has technological advantages in such sectors as gardening, planting, seeds, feed and fertilizers. There are now 16 Chinese institutes among the top 50 global agricultural patent filers, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences taking second position.