WAFI 2026 opens in Beijing's Pinggu district

The 2026 World AgriFood Innovation Conference (WAFI 2026) opened Thursday in Pinggu district of Beijing, bringing together experts, researchers, business representatives and young innovators from China and abroad to discuss the green and healthy transformation of global agri-food systems.

Held under the theme "Green and Healthy Transformation of Agrifood Systems," the three-day conference has attracted nearly 300 international guests and young representatives from more than 30 international organizations, research institutions, business groups and other organizations, along with more than 200 representatives from Chinese universities, research institutes, enterprises and industry associations.

The 2026 World AgriFood Innovation Conference (WAFI 2026) opens in Pinggu district, Beijing, Sept. 17, 2026. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Discussions at the conference focus on issues including food security, green and low-carbon development, AI-powered agriculture, and nutrition and health, with an emphasis on technological innovation and international cooperation.

"The core concept is to integrate agriculture and food production with health services, with nutrition as the guide and health as the goal," said Di Tao, Party secretary of the CPC Pinggu District Committee, at the opening ceremony. He said Pinggu plans to develop nutrition-oriented agriculture, functional food processing and preventive health services, creating a cycle in which health needs drive agricultural research and production, while innovation and food processing support healthier lifestyles.

The opening ceremony also featured remarks by senior officials and international guests, including Vice Minister of Education Ren Youqun, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Zhang Zhili, Kenneth M. Quinn, honorary president of the World Food Prize Foundation, Zhong Denghua, party secretary of China Agricultural University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, former prime minister of Niger and board member of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and Pacome Kossy, minister for agriculture, livestock and rural development of Gabon.

Six major innovation outcomes were unveiled during the event, covering agricultural technologies, expert research and international reports, offering new perspectives on the transformation of global agri-food systems.

The conference also featured six plenary sessions on food loss reduction, AI-driven agriculture, green development, nutrition, South-South cooperation and policy dialogue, alongside thematic forums, international exchanges, an agricultural science and technology expo and public activities.

Since its launch in China in 2023, WAFI has developed into an international platform for dialogue and cooperation in agriculture and food. The conference seeks to connect global innovation resources, facilitate the exchange of knowledge and technology, and promote international cooperation on food security and sustainable agricultural development.