Over 300 global representatives discuss innovations in tropical agricultural practices

An assembly of nearly 300 representatives from 29 countries and 13 international organizations convened for the Global Tropical Agriculture Innovation Conference in Sanya, Hainan province, delving into crucial discussions on technology-driven advancements in tropical agricultural practices from Thursday to Saturday.

With a core focus on boosting crop production efficiency and strengthening the value chain within tropical agriculture, the conference aimed to reinforce global efforts in combating hunger and poverty through robust technological exchanges and strategic industry integration.

Zhang Zhili, China's vice-minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, underscored the pivotal role of tropical agriculture in ensuring global food security and vital agricultural supplies. He highlighted China's dedication to advancing technological innovation and industrial upgrading in tropical agriculture through international collaboration.

In an interview, Elisabeth Claverie de Saint Martin, CEO of CIRAD, a French agricultural research and international cooperation organization, emphasized the strong partnerships in tropical agriculture between CIRAD and Chinese institutions, particularly the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences.

She highlighted their expertise in tropical fruit and crop cultivation in French territories, maintaining strict compliance with EU regulations known globally for their rigor. With proficiency across livestock management, staple crop growth, rubber production, and more, she affirmed CIRAD's prominent position in scientific publications and rankings, ready to share their wealth of experience.

Huang Sanwen, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of CATAS, noted the conference's goal as a unified effort among global tropical agricultural scientists to collaborate on technological breakthroughs.

"We aim to boost tropical agriculture productivity through scientific innovation, tackling food security issues in tropical regions, and contributing to global poverty reduction and health enhancement while providing technological support for the accelerated establishment of a community with a shared future for humanity," he said.

The conference also marked the signing of collaborative agreements between CATAS and eight institutions, alongside a donation of 23,500 date palm seedlings from the United Arab Emirates to China, commemorating the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the UAE and China.

Hu Wei, director of the coconut research institute and date palm research center at CATAS, outlined plans to advance date palm cultivation in multiple Chinese regions including Hainan, Yunnan and Fujian provinces, expedite the development of the China-UAE Friendship Center, establish a modern joint date palm agriculture laboratory, and infuse fresh momentum into the global date palm industry's high-quality growth.