On September 13, New Zealand special agricultural trade envoy Hamish Marr was accompanied by acting consul-general Wilson Chau of New Zealand Consulate-General in Shanghai, and Charlotte Austin, deputy director for China affairs of ministry of primary industries, New Zealand Embassy for a visit to SAAS. The delegation was received by Cai Youming, president of SAAS.

President Cai extended warm welcome to the delegation, providing a detailed introduction to the organizational structure and achievements in scientific and technological innovation of SAAS. He noted that since its establishment in 1960, SAAS has been committed to the development and innovation in the field of agriculture, serving the high-level development of agriculture and aiding farmers in cultivating crop varieties with regional characteristics and market competitiveness. He mentioned that agricultural and pasture products from New Zealand, including dairy, meat, and honey, are widely popular in the Chinese market. Given that New Zealand and China are located in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres respectively, with complementary climates, there is significant potential for cooperation in the agricultural sector.

Hamish Marr stated that agricultural development is one of the top priorities for every country. During his visit in Shanghai, he observed the local agricultural development from a farmer's perspective and looked forward to gaining insights into the latest advancements in agricultural technology in Shanghai. He expressed his hope to establish a long-term and stable cooperative relationship with Chinese agricultural institutions to promote breakthroughs in agricultural technology research and development, better serving the development and market demands of both countries. 

During an in-depth discussion on the concept of "medicine and food homology", president Cai emphasized the central role of the integration of agriculture and medical care in the modern health industry. He highlighted the key role of the medicine and food homology concept in ensuring the health of citizens' diets and meeting their needs. He provided a detailed account of the proactive actions taken by SAAS in this area, including achievements in the breeding, product development, and application promotion of functional varieties such as edible and medicinal fungi and sugar-reducing rice. In addition, both parties further explored topics such as soil ecological protection mechanisms, sustainable agricultural development strategies, and diversification of farmers' income sources.

Prior to the meeting, the delegation tour the Pilot Mushroom Cultivation Facility and the Flower Innovation Center and at Fengpu campus.