On September 20, the press conference for 2024 World AgriFood Innovation (WAFI) Conference took place at Beijing Jinhai Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center.
Sun Qixin, President of China Agricultural University along with leaders from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Pinggu District Municipality, attended the press conference and interacted with the reporters.
WAFI 2024 will be held in BeijingJinhai Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center from October 10 to 12. The theme of the conference is "Climate Change & Agrifood Systems Transformation". The conference will feature a variety of events, including the Opening Ceremony, Main Forums, Stakeholder Forums, Parallel Sessions, Side Events, Closing Ceremony and the WAFI Expo.
Building on the successful experience of WAFI 2023, WAFI 2024 is positioned as world-class platform for global agrifood innovation. Delegates from the scientific, educational and business communities influencing global agricultural development, along with representatives from governments, international and regional organizations, business associations, investment institutions, will join discussion on cutting-edge issues in global agrifood innovation, share achievements, strengthen industry-academia-research synergies, promote innovation in agricultural technologies, and create new momentum for global agricultural development, establishing it as the "Davos of Agriculture."
The conference will have the following five key features:
Feature One: WAFI will swiftly act on the key directives from General Secretary Xi Jinping's significant speech at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
A special session titled "China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Collaboration: Opportunities and Challenges" will be held during the conference. Nearly 60 government officials from African countries, heads of international agencies, Diplomatic envoys to China, along with representatives of university, research institutes, and chambers of commerce, will discuss the synergistic development of China-Africa agricultural science and technology and industry.
Feature Two: WAFI has greatly expanded its global reach and impact.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and nearly 30 other international agencies, along with more than 60 principals and representatives, will attend the conference.
FAO will hold the meeting of the UN Food Systems Scientific Advisory Committee and the dialogue of the UN Food Systems Youth Leaders. This marks the first time the UN Food Systems has held its significant meetings in China. WAFI will also be a critical partner to the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), jointly organizing a series of important meetings. Additionally, the Brazilian Ministry of Development and Social Assistance will lead a delegation to participate the conference. A parallel session titled "China-Brazil Agricultural Trade Cooperation and Green Development" will be also held.
Feature Three: The presence of the world's leading agricultural scientists has greatly elevated WAFI's scientific authority and standing at the forefront of innovation.
Leading scientists of CGIAR, including the principals from the International Potato Center, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the International Livestock Research Center (ILRI), the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), WorldFish, will attend. Discussions will include the possibilities of establishing research projects funded by CGIAR in China.
The conference will also organize closed-door meetings between the top animal husbandry scientists and Chinese agricutural entrepreneurs to explore feasible applications of scientific and technological achievements in Chinese enterprises.
Feature Four: WAFI is dedicated to developing high-quality productivity and will actively promote deep collaboration between industry, academia, and research.
The conference will gather scientists, educators, entrepreneurs, and investors, holding over 40 Parallel Sessions, Stakeholder Forums, Side Events, and other dialogues to promote a seamless connection between sicentific innovation and industry application.
An exhibition, the WAFI Expo, will display cutting-edge achievements, technologies, advanced models, high-quality projects, and innovative products in global agriculture. WAFI is committed to establishing a landmark event for global agricultural development.
Feature Five: WAFI is committed to organizing a green conference.
WAFI proposes a "Low-Carbon, Intelligent, and Humanistic Conference." The "5R" (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot, Refuse) approach will serve as a guiding principle to implement low-carbon practices and develop a Chinese-English intelligent conference system, offering guests smarter, more convenient, and considerate services.
WAFI will also host the WAFI 2024 Low Carbon Run, an art exhibition, the Forum on Women in Agrifood (FoWA), and other related events.
The conference will feature several major announcements, including the Pinggu Declaration, key FAO reports on agricultural innovation, the CGIAR's outlook on future research and innovation priorities in agriculture, and the launch of the Global Partnership Programme at the International Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Port.
To enhance international influence and promote investment of Agricultural Z Park, the conference will focus discussion on climate change and agrifood systems, alternative proteins, AI-driven breeding, and other key issues, producing a series of results and recommendations.
Since the success of WAFI 2023, significant transformation have been achieved. According to the Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, contact has been established with 15 key laboratories, and 76 enterprises have been facilitated to either establish a presence in Pinggu, Beijing, or develop new application scenarios. These efforts span diverse fields, including modern seed industry, intelligent agriculture, and smart equipment. This has significantly motivated agricultural science and technology innovation as well as industrial upgrading in Beijing.
The Pinggu International Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Port has moved into the planning and construction phase, with feasibility studies for the first three sub-projects approved by the Ministry of Education. Several national key laboratories are set to gradually form a cluster within the district.
WAFI 2024 seeks to harness global expertise, unite international resources, and promote collaboration and exchange. The conference will play a pivotal role in advancing the development of the Agricultural Z Park in Pinggu, attracting top talent and projects, and fostering a world-class agricultural science and technology innovation cluster. This will enhance the influence of the Beijing International Science and Technology Innovation Center and the International Communication Center, contributing to the nation's goal of accelerating its transformation into a global agricultural leader.
(Source: World Agrifood Innovation Conference)
