China Yangling Agricultural High tech Achievement Expo

On September 19th, Schleswig Zackel, Tang Renjian, Zhao Yide, Zhao Gang, and Ma Youxiang jointly opened the 30th China Yangling Agricultural High tech Achievement Expo and the 2023 Global Soil Health Forum. Photographed by reporter's Mu Jialiang

On September 19th, the opening ceremony of the 30th China Yangling Agricultural High tech Achievement Expo and the 2023 Global Soil Health Forum, with the theme of "Soil Health and Food Security", was held in the Yangling Demonstration Zone.

Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Xuekelaiti Zacker, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Tang Renjian, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Congress Zhao Yide, Governor Zhao Gang, and Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ma Youxiang attended the opening ceremony and jointly opened the current Agricultural High School Congress and the 2023 Global Soil Health Forum.

Sherry Zackel delivered a keynote speech. Tang Renjian and Zhao Gang delivered opening speeches. Hosted by Ma Youxiang.

Australian Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Walter, delivered a video speech. Colombian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Flores, Kyrgyz Minister of Agriculture Janebekov, Uzbekistan Ambassador to China Alzyev, South African Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Kapa, and Chief Scientist of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture Lavale delivered speeches.

Minister of Agriculture of Tajikistan, Hakim Zoda, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation of Myanmar, Ding Tu, Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Niazalyev, Shandong Province leader Song Junji, Hunan Province leader Huang Lanxiang, Hainan Province leader Liu Pingzhi, Shaanxi Province leader Wang Xiao, Fang Hongwei, Hao Huijie, Wang Lin, Zhuang Changxing, Fan Weibin, Zhong Hongjiang, Wang Haipeng, Zhang Xiaoguang, Xi'an City leader Ye Niuping, Wu Pute, President of Northwest A&F University of Science and Technology, as well as representatives of multiple national embassies and international organizations, attended the opening ceremony.

In his keynote speech, Schleswig Zackel pointed out that soil is the material basis for human survival, and arable land is the lifeblood of food production. President Xi Jinping has always attached great importance to food security and soil pollution prevention and control, issued a series of important instructions for strict protection of arable land, and put forward clear requirements for protecting the soil environment. Since the new era, we have continuously strengthened the protection of arable land, the construction of soil pollution prevention and control systems and governance capabilities, actively promoted soil pollution prevention and control work, and promoted China's significant transformation from a global environmental governance participant to a leader; Comprehensively strengthening the protection of arable land has created a miracle of using less than 9% of the world's arable land to feed nearly 20% of the world's population, making an important contribution to global food security. The theme of this year's Agricultural High School Fair is "Soil Health and Food Security". It deeply explores topics such as strengthening international exchanges and cooperation in agriculture, ensuring soil health, and improving food production capacity. It has significant practical and far-reaching historical significance for widely gathering consensus, discussing cooperation channels, promoting sustainable development of world agriculture, and ensuring global food security.

Scherretti Zacker said that protecting land resources and maintaining agricultural soil health are related to global food security and the common interests of all humanity. Countries around the world should further strengthen the integration of ideas, regions, academia, and actions, and jointly shoulder this major strategic responsibility related to human long-term survival and sustainable development. In the coming period, China is willing to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with countries around the world, jointly build a global soil health exchange platform, share development technologies, experiences, and models in the field of soil health, and jointly promote global farmland protection and construction, ecological civilization construction, and sustainable agricultural development to a new level, providing China's solutions and wisdom to ensure global food security. I hope to explore and innovate, work hand in hand, and jointly create a new chapter in international cooperation on soil health under the principle of win-win cooperation, making new and greater contributions to ensuring global food security.

Tang Renjian stated that soil is the foundation of life and the source of food, and safeguarding soil health is of great significance for food security, sustainable agricultural development, and ecological environment protection. The Chinese government has always attached great importance to soil health, conscientiously implemented the spirit of President Xi Jinping's important instructions, adhered to the principle of "protection in utilization, utilization in protection", established the strictest farmland protection system, constructed a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system, and significantly strengthened the construction of farmland quality. Soil health is a global issue that transcends countries and regions. China is willing to strengthen cooperation in the field of soil health with all parties, build cooperation platforms, conduct joint research and development, and close personnel exchanges, making positive contributions to ensuring global food security, addressing climate change, and promoting the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Zhao Gang said that the Yangling Agricultural High Association has always adhered to the purpose of serving the "three rural areas", advancing through exploration and developing through innovation. It has become the highest level, largest scale, and most influential comprehensive agricultural technology exhibition and an important international agricultural exchange and cooperation platform in China. The theme of this year's Agricultural High School Fair is "Soil Health and Food Security". Through various online and offline activities, it comprehensively showcases new concepts, achievements, equipment, applications, and models of agricultural science and technology at home and abroad. It will definitely make important contributions in serving high-level agricultural science and technology self-reliance, promoting comprehensive rural revitalization, and ensuring food security. Shaanxi has a long history of agricultural culture, strong agricultural technology strength, and numerous agricultural opening-up platforms. We are willing to share opportunities, strengthen cooperation, and gather consensus with all parties to continuously deepen international cooperation in the field of agriculture, and work together to promote global food security and sustainable agricultural development.

The "2023 Global Soil Health Yangling Initiative" was released on-site at the opening ceremony. Before the opening ceremony, participating leaders visited some exhibition halls.

The conference was co sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Commerce, the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, the China National Intellectual Property Administration, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the People's Government of Shaanxi Province. It lasted five days. Uzbekistan was the guest of honor, Shandong and Hunan were the guest of honor, and Yulin was the theme city. During this period, activities such as conference forums, exhibitions, investment promotion, and promotion will be held. The 2023 Global Soil Health Forum is the main forum of this year's Agricultural High School Fair, and the 2023 Agricultural Science and Technology Venture Capital Summit is the first meeting held nationwide around the integration and cooperation of agriculture, technology, and finance.