Mastering the new paradigm of scenario⁃driven innovation and continuously cultivating major, original and disruptive agricultural technological achievements is the key to achieving the ambitious goal of becoming an agricultural powerhouse. To this end, an exploratory study was conducted on China's anti⁃pest cotton technological innovation to uncover the logic and mechanisms of scenario⁃driven disruptive agricultural technological innovation. It is found that: firstly, the scenario⁃driven paradigm follows the basic logic consisting of four stages: scenario pain point anchoring drives generation, scenario validation coupling drives incubation, scenario solution provision drives industrialization, and scenario ecosystem construction drives regeneration; secondly, the process mechanisms of scenario⁃driven agricultural disruptive technological innovation include the demand⁃driven mechanisms, technology validation and evaluation mechanisms, collaborative innovation mechanisms, and major special projects’ progressive development mechanisms. Finally, recommendations for policies to facilitate the smooth flow of scenario⁃driven agricultural technological innovation were proposed, aiming to create a mutually beneficial, symbiotic innovation ecosystem that accelerates the cultivation of major agricultural technological innovations and accumulates momentum for achieving the goals of becoming an agricultural powerhouse and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.