Last week, German-based Bayer CropScience, the world's fifth largest seed company, announced that it was setting up two joint venture hybrid rice seed companies in China. An agreement with Lu Dan Seed Co of Sichuan has already been signed. giving Bayer a 49 percent share in a planned joint venture. The other deal is with Nong Ke Seed Co. Ltd. in Jiangxi province. Both agreements still require regulatory approval from Chinese authorities.