The Sorghum Research Institute of Shanxi Agricultural University,founded in August 1971, was formerly known as the Jinzhong Regional Institute of Agricultural Sciences. In 1979, it was renamed the Sorghum Research Institute of Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences. In October 2019, it was renamed Shanxi Agricultural University Sorghum Institute (hereinafter referred to as Sorghum Institute), located at No. 238, Yunhua West Street, Yuci District, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province. At present, there are 128 employees, including 7 researchers, 49 associate researchers, 7 doctors, 4 PhD candidates, 16 postgraduate tutors, 2 post experts in the national millet and sorghum industry technology system, and 4 academic technology leaders in Shanxi Province. , 4 "Three Jin" talents, and 1 leading talent in emerging industries.

There are 6 administrative departments and 13 research laboratories that are mainly engaged in basic research and applied research of sorghum, corn, buckwheat, millet and other crops. There are 232 sets of experimental equipment and instruments, with a total value of ¥4,432,800. The Institute also has more than 10 scientific research platforms, including the "Belt and Road" International Sorghum Industry Science and Technology Innovation Institute, the National Sorghum Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance, and the Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Sorghum Genetics and Germplasm Innovation. There are four test bases in Shizhang Village, Xiuwen Village, Dongbai Village and Sanya City, Hainan Province, covering a total area of 82.89 ha in Zhangcun, Xiuwen, Dongbai of Shanxi Province and Sanya city of Hainan province.

The institute is a professional sorghum research institution with early establishment and complete disciplines in China. It has led the development of China sorghum industry in the utilization of heterosis, the research and development of new varieties, and technological breakthroughs. In the 1960s and 1970s, the dwarf lodging resistant hybrid "Jinza" was bred and popularized in a large area throughout the country, basically covering the sorghum planting area throughout the whole country; "Sorghum hybrid Jinza No.5, No.4 and No.1" won the award of the National Science Conference; "Sorghum restorer Jinliang 5 and Jinfu 1" won the third prize of National Invention Award; In the 1980s and 1990s, the new A2 cytoplasmic male sterile line V4A was bred and combined with A2 hybrid Jinza 12, which was popularized in a large area；The "Creation and utilization of new cytoplasmic sorghum male sterile line A2V4A" won the third prize of national scientific and technological invention. At the beginning of this century. A number of varieties with strong competitiveness have been bred by market demand. Sorghum varieties including Jinza brewing sorghum, Jincao forage sorghum, Jintian sweet sorghum and Jinza sorghum suitable for mechanized cultivation have been widely used in production

The Sorghum Institute is an early-established sorghum professional research institution with complete disciplines in China. It has led the development of China’s sorghum industry in terms of heterosis utilization, the research and development of new crop varieties,, and technological breakthroughs. In the 1960s and 1970s, the "Jinza" dwarf lodging-resistant hybrid was bred and popularized on a large scale across the country, basically covering the sorghum planting areas across the country. Sorghum Hybrid Jinza No. 5, No. 4, and No. 1 all won the National Science Conference Award. In addition, Sorghum Restorer Line Jinliang No. 5 and Jinfu No. 1 won third prize in the National Invention Award. In the 1980s and 1990s, after being bred, the new A2 cytoplasmic sterile line V4A was combined with the A2 hybrid Jinza 12 for large-scale promotion. The "Creation and Utilization of a New Cytoplasmic Sorghum Male Sterile Line A2V4A" won third prize in the National Science and Technology Invention Award. At the beginning of the 21stcentury, a number of sorghum varieties were bred for market demands.Sorghum varieties including Jinza brewing sorghum, Jincao forage sorghum, Jintian sweet sorghum and Jinza sorghum suitable for mechanized cultivation have been widely used in production

Since its establishment, the Sorghum Institute has undertaken a total of 216 projects above the provincial and ministerial levels, bred 128 new varieties of crops, won 47 awards at the provincial and ministerial levels, won 22 national invention patents, published 14 monographs, and published academic papers at home and abroad more than 770 papers. 40 achievements have been transformed, and the transformation amount has reached more than 6 million yuan. In addition, the Institute has accumulated a radiation of corn, buckwheat, millet and other new varieties of that span more than 1.8 million ha.

In recent years, relying on the project of “Dry Sorghum Industry Cluster” combined with H-type agricultural production depositing mode, the Institute of Sorghum has strengthened cooperation between government schools and enterprises and improved the level of science and technology services. The Institute has organically integrated upstream and downstream sorghum enterprises and agricultural materials, banking, insurance, big data companies and other service institutions, by forming a closed-loop production of sorghum industry chain. In order to make technical breakthroughs on large-scale, normalized, and standardized production of sorghum industry, the Institute of Sorghum has built many public brands including Shanxi Sorghum, Shanxi Fragrant Daqu Liquor, and Shanxi Aged Vinegar, and enhanced the commercial value of these sorghum brewing products.

At present, the Institute of Sorghum is taking the lead in the selection and breeding of new sorghum varieties, combining the sorghum industry, and education and research. The Institute of Sorghum plays an important role in supporting the development of China's sorghum industry.