In October 2025, the First Rice Science and Technology Congress was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. With the theme of “Scientific and Technological Innovation in Rice and New Quality Productive Forces”, the congress organized six sub-forums, bringing together academicians, researchers, and industry representatives from across China to exchange insights and discuss strategic developments. Although China’s rice production capacity remains at a historically high level, the industry faces multiple challenges, including a slowdown in yield growth, persistent trade-offs between grain quality and high yield, frequent climate disasters and pest outbreaks, and increasing constraints on arable land and agricultural inputs. Digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, have emerged as new drivers for upgrading rice breeding and production systems. The conference facilitated in-depth discussions on fundamental theories, breeding technology, green cultivation practices, deep processing of rice products, regional industrial development, national-level science and technology platform construction, and advancements in scientific journals. It reviewed innovative achievements and practical models across the entire rice industry chain, systematically analyzed development trends for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), and clarified key priorities for scientific breakthroughs and industrial upgrading. The outcomes provide valuable references for advancing rice technological innovation, fostering new quality productive forces in agriculture, and ensuring national food security in China.