The Spark Programme (1986-2015) was the first plan implemented to revitalise the Chinese rural economy through science and technology. It provided technology training to farmers, so as to change their traditional production methods for more technologically advanced ones. The Envoy System has also been implemented in China since 2002 to promote innovation in rural areas by sending qualified science and technology specialists to those areas to provide farmers with S&T services, including demonstrations, training and advice. More recently, S&T envoys’ tasks switched from agricultural technology services to helping farmers set up as S&T entrepreneurs.