BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 800 experts from China and around the world have convened at the 2025 World AgriFood Innovation Conference (WAFI 2025), advocating agricultural sci-tech innovation to promote sustainable agrifood systems.

Held from Oct. 12 to 14 under the theme of "Resilient Food Supply for AgriFood Systems Transformation," the conference is underscoring the pressing need for transformative innovation in the agricultural sector.

At the conference, China Agricultural University President Sun Qixin emphasized the need to accelerate the sustainable transformation of the global agrifood system in light of mounting uncertainties brought by climate change.

He said that WAFI is committed to advancing cutting-edge innovation to drive the transition of agricultural systems worldwide, with the aim of maximizing impact through international exchange, global expertise aggregation and sustained industry-academia collaboration.

In his opening ceremony address, Kenneth M. Quinn, president emeritus of the World Food Prize Foundation, highlighted three essential elements -- innovation, infrastructure and inspiration -- as foundational to building a sustainable future for agriculture.

Quinn also stressed the importance of inspiring the next generation of scientists and leaders, citing the legacy of pioneers such as the late celebrated Chinese scientist Yuan Longping, who is known as the "father of hybrid rice," to ignite passion among youth.

Acknowledging the numerous challenges facing the transformation of agrifood systems, experts at the conference urged global collaboration to share experience and results through ongoing dialogue.

Huang Sanwen, president of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), called on governments, research institutions and leading enterprises around the world to join forces in creating transnational and interdisciplinary platforms.

"The goal is to accelerate breakthroughs in key core technologies that can expand the frontiers of our food supply," he said.

The conference is slated to feature over 40 parallel sessions, fostering dialogue on international cooperation across a range of areas, including agricultural technology, trade, investment, policy and sustainable development, as well as dialogue on emerging topics such as novel proteins, AI-driven agriculture, climate change and smart breeding practices.

During the opening ceremony, multiple organizations presented a series of relevant reports.

The Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) released its 2025 Innovation Report. Sandra Milach, the institute's chief scientist, emphasized that innovation cannot succeed in isolation, and noted the long-standing collaborative history between CGIAR and China.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development issued an innovation catalog aimed at promoting the application of research results in the fields of nutrition, sustainable agriculture and resilience-building.

China Agricultural University also unveiled the Shennong Large Model 3.0, representing a major step forward in making AI more accessible and practical for agricultural use.

Inaugurated in 2023, WAFI aims to be a world-class platform for the advancement of global agrifood innovation. It is organized by China Agricultural University, CAAS, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the local government of Beijing's Pinggu District and CGIAR. ■