In order to implement the seed industry revitalization, improve the supply capacity of seed technology, accelerate the implementation of maize biological breeding projects, promote the technological innovation of specialty maize in Shanghai, and comprehensively promote the construction of CIMMYT-China Specialty Maize Research Center, on July 11, an international seminar on biological breeding of specialty maize was held in the International Science and Technology Exchange Center, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Cai Youming, president of SAAS, Li Jianying, inspector of the Shanghai Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, director of the Planting Division, and Zhao Zhihui, vice president of SAAS, attended the seminar. Dr. Felix San Vicente, Chief Scientist of Maize Breeding Program of International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Latin America, Ms. Alba Virginia Sulbaran Arevalo, Independent Consultant of project management and human resources department, Dr. Xu Yunbi, chief scientist of molecular breeding, Dr. Zhang Xuecai, senior scientist of molecular breeding, prof. Li Jiansheng, China Agricultural University and director of the Maize Committee of the Crop Science Society of China, prof. Zhao Guangwu, deputy dean of the College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, prof. Qi Zengjun of Nanjing Agricultural University, Researcher Chen Yanping, chief scientist of the Maize Innovation Team of Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Liu Peihong, director of the Science Research Administration Division, Shi Biao, director of the Biotechnology Research Institute, Pei Hongluo, Party Secretary of the Crop Breeding and Cultivation Research Institute, Zheng Hongjian, deputy director of the Crop Breeding and Cultivation Research Institute and Executive Deputy Director of CIMMYT-China Specialty Maize Research Center (CCRMRC), and relevant researchers attended the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Cao Liming, Director of the Crop Breeding and Cultivation Institute, SAAS.

Vice president Zhao Zhihui delivered a welcome speech. In the speech, he said that SAAS and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center jointly established CIMMYT-China Specialty Maize Research Center in Shanghai, which was an important measure of influence and competitiveness of maize industrial transformation and innovation of international cooperation of our academy.

President Cai Youming pointed out that specialty maize has strong competitiveness in the market, both waxy corn and sweet corn could meet the people's huge demand for high-quality agricultural products and high-quality life.

Zheng Hongjian gave a report titled "CIMMYT-China Special Corn Center Research Progress and Future Plan", reporting the work progress and remarkable achievements since the establishment of the center.

Dr. Felix San Vicente gave a report titled "Tropical Maize Breeding: The CIMMYT experience", introducing the experience in tropical maize breeding, including the application of genome-wide selection, haploid breeding, molecular breeding techniques and the successful experience of nutrient fortified maize breeding.

After the meeting, domestic and foreign experts visited the maize demonstration field in Zhuanghang Comprehensive Experiment Station and conducted in-depth discussions on maize germplasm resources, gene function research, molecular breeding, and cell biology.