Yangling agri fair brings innovation to doorstep

With an expanded global reach and commitment to pushing the boundaries of agricultural progress, the 31st China Yangling Agricultural High-Tech Fair, held from Friday to Tuesday, brought a fresh wave of global agricultural innovation and cooperation to Shaanxi province's Yangling demonstration zone.

The latest edition of the fair featured a round table on modern agricultural development within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. This is the first time that all 26 SCO countries — including nine member states, 14 dialogue partners, and three observer nations — participated in the fair, said Liu Zhongshan, deputy director of Yangling's management committee.

The participation of all SCO countries in the fair to discuss major agricultural issues is of great significance for deepening international agricultural cooperation, said Nuran Niyazaliyev, SCO deputy secretary general.

The SCO, he added, has always prioritized exchanges and cooperation in agriculture within its framework, which is crucial for ensuring food security.

The growing participation of both new and returning global exhibitors has highlighted the increasing internationalization of the Yangling fair.

Mohammad Amir, head of the handicrafts section of Pakistan pavilion, this year's guest country, made his debut at the Yangling expo for the first time, presenting a range of traditional crafts. Amir said he hoped the expo would help Pakistani products gain recognition and facilitate their entry into the Chinese market.

Through the fair, Pakistan aspires to learn from the Yangling demonstration zone and Shaanxi in critical technological areas, including agricultural innovation, high-tech applications within the sector, high-yield seed cultivation and more, as the platform provides an invaluable opportunity for the country to engage with distinguished experts in China, said Khalil Hashmi, ambassador of Pakistan to China, during the Pakistan pavilion inauguration ceremony last week.

The Netherlands, a long-time participant at the fair, marked its tenth year of attendance this time. "This year, the Dutch delegation consists of 16 companies and organizations, the largest number so far," said Hu Xizhe, an agricultural adviser at the Dutch embassy in China.

Hu added that the Netherlands has showcased advanced agricultural technologies and equipment, including smart greenhouse design, horticulture and livestock lighting, tomato breeding, fruit sorting and orchard management data platforms at the fair.

In addition, after 31 years of development, the Yangling expo has expanded its reach beyond China's borders, hosting overseas exhibitions in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, for the second consecutive year.

The latest overseas exhibition opened on Oct 16, featuring a range of agricultural innovations and products. New apple varieties and specialty fig products from China, for example, garnered attention from local farmers and business representatives.

"The apples from Shaanxi taste great. I grow apples on my farm too, and I'm interested in learning more about these new varieties in the hope of introducing them back home," said Makhmudov Abduvakhob, a grower from the Syrdarya region of Uzbekistan during the expo.

The fair has also set up an exhibition area at the agricultural product commodity trading center within the SCO agricultural base in Uzbekistan, showcasing agricultural technologies, specialty products, machinery and biopharmaceuticals.

This year's event featured over 1,800 exhibitors from 28 Chinese provincial-level regions, nine national agricultural high-tech zones and 49 countries, said its organizer.