Conference calls for tech innovations to fight weed menace

The Joint Weed Science Society Congress was held in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, this week, gathering more than 600 experts and scholars from 42 countries and regions to share research progress and explore future development for global weed science.

Co-hosted by the Institute of Plant Protection of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Nanjing Agricultural University, the event included the 9th International Weed Science Congress, the 29th Asian Pacific Weed Science Conference, and the 17th China Weed Science Conference.

Weeds are a major global threat to agricultural production and ecological security. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, weeds lead to 10 to 15 percent of global crop yield losses each year.

In 2024, the grain-planting area in China reached 119 million hectares, with weed occurrence covering nearly 100 million hectares, accounting for over 85 percent of farmland and resulting in annual economic losses exceeding 100 billion yuan ($13.8 billion), according to the institute.

The proliferation of weeds, widespread herbicide resistance and frequent chemical damage incidents have posed serious challenges to sustainable agriculture, experts said at the event, calling for technological innovation to ensure global food and ecological security.

Themed as New Technology Leads the Way of Weed Science, the conference highlighted advances in weed biology, molecular mechanisms, intelligent identification, resistance management, and green control technologies.

During the congress, delegates visited demonstration sites showing China's latest research and applications in weed management. They also discussed the impact of climate change on weed disasters and integrated control strategies, proposing a series of targeted recommendations, according to the organizers.