The New Rural Development Institute is one of the 39 state-level institutes for new rural development jointly approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education in December 2013. The Institute bases its research on the ecological resources and agricultural characteristics of the mountainous areas in Guizhou province, and takes into consideration the needs of agricultural modernization, poverty alleviation, comprehensive treatment of rocky desertification, and characteristic industry development. The research focuses on some of the forward-looking, strategic, and global issues related to the strategic construction of the new socialist countryside in Karst plateau areas and the rich and beautiful countryside, as well as advancing rural areas. The institute is a think tank for macro-decision-making consultation concerning agriculture, rural areas, and farmers in Guizhou province. It is also a platform for technology research and development as well as technology transformation aimed at promoting and enhancing agricultural development by applying scientific and technological advances.

To develop rural areas with thriving businesses, pleasant living environments, social etiquette and civility, effective governance, and prosperity, the Institute closely focuses on the comprehensive needs of new rural development in the mountainous areas of Guizhou, continuously develops new industries, cultivates new farmers, advocates for new trends, spreads new culture, and builds a new environment. It has integrated and set up multi-disciplinary academic teams to study “three changes” reform policies in the countryside, agricultural cultivation, livestock and poultry breeding, environmental protection, ecological governance, circular agriculture, rural tourism, and agricultural products. The Institute has also participated in the development of first-class disciplines such as Biology and Agricultural and Forestry Economy Management. It fosters a close relationship with the first-level master programs covering disciplines such as animal husbandry, agricultural resources and environment, and environmental science and engineering, in order to co-create an experimental demonstration base that shares resources with local governments and combines production, learning, and research. Aiming to build a diverse, open, comprehensive, and highly-efficient operation mechanism and service model, the Institute will spare no effort to become an important scientific and technological pillar for modern agriculture as well as for the construction and development of new rural areas.

The Institute currently has 10 full-time staff with an average age of 39, including five professors, four associate professors, and one laboratory technician, of whom five hold Ph.Ds. In addition, there are 26 part-time teachers and researchers, including 18 professors, five associate professors, and three lecturers. Sixteen of these are doctors with an average age of 42 years. The percentage of faculty members who hold senior professional titles is 76%; those who hold doctorate degrees represent 62% of all faculty.