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Hubei University is further stepping up efforts to serve modern agriculture. On the morning of November 20, the 2025 China-Africa Innovation Cooperation and Development Forum, co-organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the People's Government of Hubei Province, opened in Wuhan. Approximately 800 participants attended the forum, including government dignitaries, diplomats, and distinguished international guests from 43 countries (regions) across China, Africa, the Americas, Europe and other parts of the world, as well as representatives from relevant national ministries and commissions, 20 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), and renowned experts. As an important part of the forum, the 2025 International Conference on China-Africa Agricultural Innovation Cooperation and Industry-University-Research Integration was held at Hubei University on November 21.

The conference was hosted by the School of Life Sciences and the Modern Agricultural Innovation Research Institute of Hubei University, and co-organized by the Wuhan (China-South Africa) High-Quality Agricultural Product Molecular Breeding Belt and Road Joint Laboratory and the Hubei Association of Synthetic Biology. With the theme of “China-Africa Agricultural Cooperation under the Framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Opportunities and Future”, the international conference invited academicians and experts from multiple China-Africa countries to jointly discuss China-Africa agricultural cooperation.

The opening ceremony of the conference was presided over by Academician Jia Yinsuo, Executive Chair of the Conference and Dean of the Modern Agricultural Innovation Research Institute of Hubei University. At the ceremony, Zhang Donghui, Member of the University Party Committee Standing Committee and Vice President of Hubei University, delivered an opening speech on behalf of the university. She comprehensively introduced the series of measures and achievements of Hubei University in serving China-Africa cooperation, as well as the specific plans for advancing China-Africa agricultural science and technology cooperation, talent cultivation and knowledge sharing in the future. She stated that Hubei University looks forward to working with all parties to ensure that the cooperation outcomes benefit more people in China and Africa.

Academician Lise Korsten, the incumbent President of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), delivered a speech on behalf of the African side. She highly praised the remarkable achievements made in China-Africa agricultural innovation cooperation. She pointed out that China-Africa agricultural cooperation features complementary advantages, noting that China’s outstanding accomplishments in the agricultural field have provided valuable experience for Africa’s agricultural transformation, and Africa boasts enormous agricultural production potential. She expressed that the African Academy of Sciences is willing to continue to join hands with Chinese counterparts and partners to steadily promote the building of a trans-continental agricultural innovation belt and achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Professor Hu Kanghong delivered a speech on behalf of the Modern Agricultural Innovation Research Institute of Hubei University and the Wuhan (China-South Africa) High-Quality Agricultural Product Molecular Breeding Belt and Road Joint Laboratory. He said that the Modern Agricultural Innovation Research Institute and the joint laboratory will work together to drive China-Africa agricultural science and technology innovation towards a deeper, more practical and broader future.

Academician Lise Korsten, President of the African Academy of Sciences, Director Mutengwa from the University of Fort Hare, South Africa, representatives from Bayero University, Nigeria and L’Excellence Company signed the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement with the Modern Agricultural Innovation Research Institute of Hubei University, and jointly established the “China-Africa Green Germplasm Innovation Alliance”, focusing on the joint research and development of stress-resistant breeding of corn and rice and smart agriculture technologies.

At the conference, a joint signing ceremony for domestic agricultural enterprise innovation was also held. Hubei State Farms Seed Group Co., Ltd., Hubei Kangnong Seed Co., Ltd., Wuhan Yunzhen Technology Co., Ltd., and Zhongken Jinxiu Huanong Co., Ltd. signed an agreement with the Modern Agricultural Innovation Research Institute of Hubei University to jointly build the “Yangtze River Economic Belt Biobreeding Innovation Consortium”. By leveraging the strengths of Hubei University’s first-class discipline of biology and its technological strengths in bio-manufacturing, the consortium will advance the industrialization of molecular design breeding and high-yield green crop varieties. The simultaneous implementation of the two agreements marks that the China-Africa and university-enterprise “dual-wheel drive” cooperation has entered a new stage of substantive operation, injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of agriculture under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The 2025 International Conference on China-Africa Agricultural Innovation Cooperation and Industry-University-Research Integration also held a number of academic reports and exchange activities. Participating experts and scholars conducted in-depth discussions on strategic opportunities for China-Africa agricultural cooperation under the BRI framework, covering topics such as green germplasm innovation, smart agriculture technology, China-Africa cooperative innovation models, models for integrating industry, academia, research and application, and the cultivation of young talents, presenting a rich and wonderful academic feast for all participants.