The 2024 Sino-Agricultural Week marked the highlight of this year’s activities of the Sino-German Agricultural Center, celebrating ten years of successful operation of the joint initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and the Chinese Ministry of Rural Affairs and Agriculture (MARA). Jointly operated by IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH and IAMO, the Center assembled over 400 key stakeholders from business, research, advocacy, and farming sectors. Additionally, 17,000 viewers tuned in to the online broadcast.
During the opening speeches, BMEL State Secretary Silvia Bender, German Ambassador to China Patricia Flor, Jiangsu Vice Governor Xinmin Xia, and Wei Wu, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Yancheng Municipal Committee, emphasized the significance of Sino-German collaboration in promoting sustainable agriculture. The event featured three dedicated sessions focusing on eco-friendly, science-based agricultural solutions towards long-term food security and environmental sustainability. IAMO researcher Lena Kuhn, serving as the scientific backstopper for the DCZ, moderated a high-profile panel discussion on Agroecology. The panel participants, German and Chinese experts from research, business, and politics, discussed both the technical opportunities and practical challenges of scaling up agroecological practices globally. Comparing best practices from various countries, the panelists underscored the need for economic incentives and inclusive approaches that engage a diverse range of stakeholders in the agri-food sector.
