On September 17, the Advisory Committee for the 2025 World AgriFood Innovation (WAFI) Conference held its third meeting. The session was chaired by Professor Fan Shenggen, Executive Chair of the WAFI Advisory Committee and Dean of the Academy of Global Food Economics and Policy at China Agricultural University.

In attendance were WAFI Advisory Committee Co-chairs Sun Qixin, President of China Agricultural University, and Kenneth M. Quinn, President Emeritus of the World Food Prize Foundation, along with more than 20 Committee members representing organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the CGIAR, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the Asian Development Bank, Syngenta Group, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the IFAMA.

Professor Fan provided an update on the preparatory work and agenda planning for WAFI2025. He shared that the Conference, under the theme “Resilient Food Supply For Agrifood Systems Transformation,” will take place from October 12 to 15 in Pinggu, Beijing, and at China Agricultural University. It is expected to bring together nearly 300 international participants from Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, Europe, and other regions, making it the largest edition of the Conference to date. The agenda will cover a wide range of topics, including AI applications in agriculture, nutrition-oriented food systems, climate resilience, South-South cooperation, as well as forums focused on youth and women.

President Quinn reflected on WAFI’s achievements since its inception and extended his congratulations to China Agricultural University on its 120th anniversary. He noted that WAFI has become an important platform for advancing global agricultural cooperation and food system transformation, particularly amid current multifaceted challenges to food security worldwide. He emphasized China’s significant accomplishments in agricultural sustainable development and expressed his hope that WAFI would continue to gather global expertise to further stimulate innovation in agricultural science and technology.

President Sun Qixin expressed his gratitude to the Advisory Committee members for their valuable contributions. He underscored that WAFI has received extensive support from Chinese government agencies, international institutions, and the business community. The Conference will maintain its focus on global food security and agricultural innovation, promoting practical cooperation and contributing both “Chinese solutions” and “global wisdom” to address challenges such as climate change, hunger, and poverty. He also conveyed his confidence in and anticipation for WAFI2025, expressing belief that through collective efforts, the Conference will drive further innovation and progress in agricultural science and technology.

The 2025 World AgriFood Innovation (WAFI) Conference is co-organized by China Agricultural University, the People’s Government of Pinggu District, the Beijing Municipal Rural Affairs Bureau, and the CGIAR. It will be held from October 12 to 15 at the Beijing Jinhai Lake International Convention Center and the China Agricultural University International Conference Center. Under the overarching theme of “Resilient Food Supply For Agrifood Systems Transformation,” the Conference will adopt a “1+7+1+N” framework: comprising an opening ceremony and plenary session, seven thematic sessions, one World Agrifood Expo, and multiple parallel sessions and international exchange activities. Thematic sessions will include forums such as the World Agricultural University President Forum, the World Agrifood Scientists Forum, and the Agrifood Innovation and Investment Forum, among other cutting-edge fields, all designed to gather global insights and foster multi-dimensional collaboration.