The eighth Hongqiao International Economic Forum featured its inaugural Agricultural Sustainable Development in the Global South sub-forum, bringing together over 300 delegates and more than 20 global speakers to tackle pressing food security and rural transformation challenges.
Experts explored leveraging agri-tech innovations, safeguarding biodiversity, boosting trade and investment, and driving sustainable rural development. Nobel laureate Michael Levitt highlighted that biodiversity and AI-driven research, along with the Chinese mainland's strides in precision agriculture and biofertilizers, offer blueprints for land-scarce nations.
Zhao Bing of the WFP office in the Chinese mainland stressed that ensuring global food security demands collective effort beyond farmers and scientists, noting that participation from all sectors is essential to overcome these challenges.
Michele Umulisa from the Rwanda Development Board underscored Africa's role in inclusive growth, stating that the continent's voice is vital to shaping the path forward in Global South agriculture.
Under the Chinese mainland's Global Development Initiative and Belt and Road Initiative, projects like hybrid rice promotion and smallholder training have already boosted sustainable farming across developing economies.
Academician Bai Lianyang of the Chinese Academy of Engineering explained that training local experts to own and adapt new technologies is key to rooting sustainable development in partner countries.
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Hongqiao Forum focuses on Global South agricultural development
cgtn.com
