Beijing to host global conference on agri-food

The 2024 World AgriFood Innovation Conference will take place in Beijing from October 10 to 12, according to China Agricultural University, one of the event's organizers.

Themed "Climate Change & Agrifood Systems Transformation", the conference will be held at the Beijing Jinhai Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center in Beijing's Pinggu district.

President Sun Qixin of the university, speaking at a news conference in Beijing, said this year's event aims to build on the success of the previous year, positioning itself as a premier global platform for agri-food innovation.

He said the conference will bring together representatives from the fields of science, academia, business, government, and international organizations to discuss cutting-edge issues in global agri-food innovation.

With the goal of establishing the conference as the "Davos of Agriculture", participants will focus on enhancing industry-academia-research collaboration and fostering innovation in agricultural technologies, said a news release by the university.

The conference will host representatives from renowned organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and others, it said.

Leading scientists from the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, known as CGIAR, will also attend, exploring potential research collaborations in China.

Closed-door meetings will also be held to facilitate dialogue between top animal husbandry scientists and Chinese agricultural entrepreneurs to explore practical applications of technologies at Chinese factories.

Major announcements, such as the Pinggu Declaration and key FAO reports on agricultural innovation, are expected during the conference, the release added.