#BeltandRoad #PotatoIndustry #InternationalCooperation #GermplasmUtilization #UpperYangtzeRiver #Forum #Development #AgriculturalSector #Innovation #Sustainability
The “Belt and Road Forum on Potato Industry Development and Utilization of Potato Germplasm in the Upper Yangtze River” recently took place in Chongqing, China, organized by Southwest University in collaboration with several esteemed institutions and research centers. Iinternational forum hosted by Southwest University brought together experts and representatives from 11 countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, along with international organizations and domestic institutions. The forum aimed to strengthen international cooperation in the potato industry, focusing on the upper Yangtze River region, as part of the larger Belt and Road initiative.
During the forum, notable keynote speeches were delivered by Hannele Lindqvist-Kreuze and Jin Liping. Lv Dianqiu, the Dean of the College of Agronomy and Biotechnology at Southwest University, presented a report on the technological requirements and cooperative prospects of the Belt and Road Initiative countries’ potato industries. He emphasized that the Science and Technology Innovation Institute would further promote joint efforts in potato variety breeding, germplasm innovation, technology dissemination for key aspects of the potato industry, and the establishment of modern potato cultivation demonstration bases. The institute aims to become an important agricultural research and development platform and collaborative innovation base for Belt and Road Initiative countries.
Distinguished guests and experts from various countries and regions, as well as representatives from national and municipal industry departments, attended the event. The opening ceremony featured speeches from Mr. Zhuang Jia, Vice Director of the China Science and Technology Exchange Center, Mr. Wang Jinjun, Deputy Party Secretary and Vice President of Southwest University, and Mr. Li Juetong, Deputy Director of the Human Resources Development Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. They highlighted the importance of collaboration and expressed their enthusiasm for the event.
Mr. Wang Jinjun, on behalf of the university, extended a warm welcome to the attendees and presented the fruitful achievements and future prospects of international cooperation and germplasm resource creation in the context of the Belt and Road initiative. Professor Vadim Khassanov, representing the university, and Dr. Philip James Kear, scientist at the International Potato Center Asia-Pacific Center, also delivered speeches emphasizing the significance of the event and the opportunities it presents for global potato industry development.
Following the speeches, Mr. Li Juetong, Deputy Director of the Human Resources Development Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, gave a speech and read the official approval documents for the establishment of the “Belt and Road International Potato Industry Technology Innovation Institute.” Representatives from various parties participated in cooperative agreements and jointly issued the “Proposal for Building and Sharing the Belt and Road International Potato Germplasm Resource Library.”
On the morning of May 26, representatives from both domestic and international backgrounds visited the Key Laboratory of Potato Biology and Genetic Breeding in Chongqing, as well as the Western (Chongqing) Science City’s Plant Breeding and Innovation Center. The visitors praised the elegant environment and advanced facilities of the innovation center. Leveraging abundant germplasm resources, a professional research background, and innovative capabilities, the center is expected to create a brighter future for the potato industry.
The “Belt and Road Forum on Potato Industry Development and Utilization of Potato Germplasm in the Upper Yangtze River” holds significant implications for the future of the potato industry. The event provided a platform for knowledge exchange, technological advancements, and international cooperation. By fostering collaboration and sharing germplasm resources, the forum aimed to boost the sustainable development of the potato industry in the participating countries and regions.
The cooperative agreements and the establishment of the “Belt and Road International Potato Industry Technology Innovation Institute” are expected to facilitate research and development activities, promote the exchange of scientific findings, and support the cultivation and utilization of potato germplasm. This will contribute to enhanced potato varieties, increased agricultural productivity, and improved food security in the Belt and Road countries as well as the upper Yangtze River region in China.
The outcomes of this forum are anticipated to propel the potato industry towards a future of innovation, sustainability, and international collaboration, further strengthening the agricultural sector’s role in the Belt and Road initiative.
