The final of the 5th China Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurship Contest is held in Suzhou New District on Oct 14. [Photo by Li Chuan/youth.cn]

The red sea rice developed by Guangdong Ocean University won silver at the 5th China Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurship Contest, which concluded in Suzhou New District on Oct 14.

Founded in 2014, the event is aimed at promoting mass entrepreneurship and innovation, and offering youth a platform for presentation and exchanges. It has been a touchstone for nearly 400,000 entrepreneurial projects from more than 1.9 million people over the past five years.

Judges vote on the innovative & entrepreneurial projects. [Photo by Li Chuan/youth.cn]

This year, the contest saw 310 entrepreneurial teams from across the country compete under the commercial & industrial, modern agriculture & rural e-commerce, and internet categories. Seven projects took gold, 17 took silver, and 38 took bronze after three rounds of competition.

Seven projects take gold, 17 take silver, and 38 take bronze after three rounds of competition. [Photo by Li Chuan/youth.cn]

The red sea rice was first released by the university at the China Marine Economy Expo in 2017. It is a new type of high-yield red rice that can be planted in saline-alkaline soil at the junctures of rivers and seas. Not only does it not need fertilizer, but it can also convert soil into arable land and improve the natural environment.