Agri Science Key Climate Change Tool, Say Experts
By ZHAO YIMENG | China Daily | Updated: 2026-11-04 09:26
Agricultural science and technology is expected to play a greater role in international cooperation as countries face mounting pressures from climate change, resource constraints, and disruptions to food supply chains, experts said on Monday at a global forum in Hainan province.
The eighth Global Forum of Leaders for Agricultural Science and Technology, held in Sanya under the theme "Shaping Future Agriculture with Science and Innovation", brought together agricultural research leaders and experts to discuss how scientific collaboration can address shared challenges and promote sustainable food systems.
Sun Tan, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), emphasized that climate change, biodiversity loss, and regional conflicts have made ensuring food security and achieving sustainable agricultural development more challenging.
He stressed that food security is a global endeavor, and no country can stand alone, highlighting technological innovation as fundamental to addressing these challenges.
CAAS will leverage platforms like GLAST to ensure cutting-edge agricultural technologies benefit all countries, turning scientific advances into a driving force for global food systems, Sun said.
Initiated by CAAS in 2006, GLAST celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, having held eight editions. The forum called for further cooperation in advancing the G2P international mega-science program, which focuses on identifying crop genotypes and field phenotypes to discover elite germplasm and key genes.
The academy will also expand joint research through the FAO-CAAS innovation platform in genomic breeding, climate change, digital agriculture, and biosafety, Sun added.
China has established bilateral agricultural science and technology dialogue mechanisms with over 60 countries in recent years, developing cooperation platforms and joint laboratories. Joint research has expanded into areas including germplasm exchange, cross-border pest and disease prevention, and climate-smart agriculture.
Pierre Venter, vice-chancellor of Massey University in New Zealand, noted that agricultural systems across the Asia-Pacific region face interconnected challenges, including changing climate conditions and pressure on soil and water resources.
He suggested that collaboration among APEC economies could combine their strengths in climate-resilient farming, biosecurity, agricultural research, and food safety.
Venter also emphasized the importance of reducing food loss and waste throughout the value chain, which would help countries make better use of resources already invested in food production.
He added that sustainability should generate economic benefits for farmers, particularly small-scale producers who need better access to knowledge, technology, and finance.
Norhashila Binti Hashim, a professor at Universiti Putra Malaysia, emphasized the need for international agricultural innovation to be closely aligned with farmers' needs from the earliest stages of research.
She encouraged universities, research institutions, agricultural extension officers, and industry partners to collaborate in identifying practical problems, developing technologies, and conducting field trials across different regions.