From November 17th to 20th, the first Conference on Germplasm Innovation and Biological Breeding of Subtropic Crops was convened in Nanning. The event, under the guidance of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, was jointly organized by Guangxi University, South China Agricultural University, and Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The conference saw the presence of esteemed guests, including Academician Liu Yaoguang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Academicians Xingwang Deng and Jiankang Zhu from the National Academy of Sciences USA, alongside Mr. Chen Mingwei, Secondary Inspector of Guangxi’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Feng Jiaxun, Vice President of Guangxi University.

Liu Yaoguang highlighted the pivotal role played by the collaborative efforts of the organizing committee and the unwavering support from experts and scholars in the realm of subtropical crops for the successful inauguration of the first conference. His vision for the conference entails achieving a distinguished standard, delivering tangible outcomes, and establishing it as a hallmark event within the field. The goal is to furnish a high-caliber platform for experts and scholars, fostering top-tier collaborative exchanges and catalyzing the rejuvenation of China’s seed industry.

Feng Jiaxun provided an overview of GXU’s agricultural disciplines spanning over 90 years, the establishment of the State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, and ongoing research in sugarcane biological breeding. He warmly welcomed the attending representatives to the green city of Nanning.

Chen Mingwei presented the achievements in the development of modern distinctive agriculture in Guangxi. He expressed the hope that the attending experts would leverage their intellectual capabilities to provide more guidance and assistance to Guangxi in cutting-edge academic initiatives, pivotal core technological advancements, and the establishment of high-caliber platforms.

Deng Xingwang, Zhu Jiankang , and other experts delivered invited presentations at the conference, while Liu Yaoguang and Zhang Jisen, among other experts, presented keynote speeches.

A total of 51 distinguished experts and outstanding young scientists, known for their remarkable achievements and significant academic influence in the field of subtropical crop studies, delivered presentations at the conference. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on various topics, including subtropical biological breeding, economic and cereal crop biological breeding in subtropical regions, and horticultural crop biological breeding.

It is worth noting that this conference is also organized by the Office of Leadership Body for Talents of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Party Committee. It stands as a pivotal element within the ‘2023 Guangxi Talent Program: Winter Camp for Academicians and Experts’ and the ‘Guangxi Tour of Academicians and Experts for the High-Quality Development of Modern Characteristic Agriculture.’ These initiatives are jointly undertaken by the Organization Department of Guangxi Party Committee, Guangxi’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs  and the Association for Science and Technology.

More than 800 experts, scholars, and exceptional young scientists specializing in subtropical crops, alongside research graduates from relevant universities and research institutions, as well as representatives from enterprises, participated in the conference. Broadcasting globally, over 40,000 audience the event online .