Chongqing, May 5 (Zhong Yi) -- The "Belt and Road" International Potato Industry Development and Cooperation Forum and the Seminar on Potato Germplasm Creation and Utilization in the Upper Yangtze River were held at Chongqing Southwest University on May 25.
The seminar aims to promote the development of the potato industry in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in the Belt and Road Initiative and China, and serve and promote the breakthrough and leapfrog development of regional potato technology. Industry representatives from 11 countries under the Belt and Road Initiative, including Kazakhstan, Russia and India, attended the meeting.
The picture shows a display of potato varieties at the scene. Photo by Zhong Yi
"China is the world's largest potato producer. The potato is an important food crop in Kazakhstan. Professor Vadim Khassanov of Kazakhstan Saifrinh University of Agriculture and Technology said in his speech that Southwest University has an excellent scientific research team, a good research foundation, and advanced equipment and facilities in potato research. The two schools have common interests and in-depth cooperation in potato germplasm creation, breeding, seed potato quality testing, disease research, etc. It is hoped that Saiflin Agricultural and Technical University and relevant scientific research institutions, universities and enterprises in China will carry out extensive scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, and truly achieve "future-oriented, joint cooperation and common development of the potato industry".
Philip James Kear, Chief Scientist of the International Potato Centre Asia Pacific, said that the International Potato Centre has been working to improve potato and sweet potato production, enhance food security and carry out sustainable agricultural practices, hoping to address the current challenges facing the potato industry through scientific research, technological innovation and international cooperation. He said that participants are expected to use their rich knowledge resources, professional backgrounds and innovation capabilities to overcome challenges and jointly create the future of the potato industry through multidisciplinary cross-fertilization.
Lu Dianqiu, dean of the College of Agronomy and Biotechnology of Southwest University, told Chinanews.com that in recent years, Southwest University and Kazakhstan, Egypt and other "Belt and Road" initiative countries have carried out potato variety breeding and seed potato detection technology joint research and development work, some drought-resistant and high-temperature resistant strains have achieved good results, the next step is to carry out variety registration, and then promote it locally.
At the event, the construction unit of the "Belt and Road" International Potato Industry Science and Technology Innovation Institute signed a cooperation contract and released the "Belt and Road" international potato germplasm resource bank co-construction and sharing proposal. Southwest University also donated 1000,<> sets of potato virus disease rapid test kits to representatives of the "Belt and Road" International Potato Industry Science and Technology Innovation Institute, as well as one potato planting and harvesting machinery. (End)