In 1997 Gansu Joy Agricultural Technology Co Ltd was founded and became one of the first domestic companies that focus on trade, research and cultivation of high-quality sunflower hybrid seeds, plantation of sunflowers and processing of sunflower oil.

The company has registered capital of more than 50 million yuan ($8.2 million). It employs staff members of more than 500, including more than 100 engineers and agronomists.

In 1997 the company established China's first high-quality sunflower industrial production base, filling a void in the domestic industry.