On the afternoon of April 20, accompanied by the Asia-Pacific Division of the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office and the China Representative Office of Jeollanam-do, delegation from Jangheung-gun Mushroom Industry Research Institute in Jeollanam-do, South Korea visited SAAS. The two sides held thematic exchanges on the development of the edible fungi industry.

Yang Liuyan, Deputy Director of the Research Administration Devision (Office of International Cooperation), Zhang Jingsong, Director of the Institute of Edible Fungi, and Song Chunyan, Deputy Director of the institute, received the guests and attended the meeting.

Established by Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, South Korea, the Mushroom Industry Research Institute is a professional institution dedicated to mushroom research and industrial promotion. It boasts core strengths in variety research and development, cultivation technology innovation and industrial promotion of shiitake mushrooms and other edible fungi. The local shiitake mushroom output accounts for 80% of South Korea’s total production.

At the exchange meeting, Director Zhang extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation and introduced the discipline development, scientific research layout, platform construction and latest research achievements of the Institute. Moon Jeong-geol, Director of the Jangheung-gun Mushroom Industry Research Institute, stated that the delegation aimed to learn advanced concepts and practical achievements of SAAS in mechanized cultivation and smart production technologies for edible fungi, draw on its mature experience in large-scale and standardized development of the edible fungi industry, and further deepen technological exchanges and industrial cooperation in the edible fungi sector between China and South Korea.

During the meeting, both sides conducted in-depth discussions on topics including the development trend of the global edible fungi market, innovative breeding of high-quality germplasm resources, iteration of efficient cultivation technologies and upgrading of smart agricultural applications, and shared technical reserves and industrial practical experience. Both sides agreed that the edible fungi industries of China and South Korea feature distinct advantages respectively. This exchange has built an efficient communication and cooperation bridge, laying a solid foundation for further in-depth technical exchanges and collaboration in the future.

Prior to the forum, the delegation visited the pilot test platform of the National Engineering Research Center of the Institute of Edible Fungi.