On the afternoon of August 26, Mr. QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and his entourage visited SAAS. Mr. Feng Zhiyong, Director of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr. Jin Junfeng, Secretary of the Party Committee of SAAS, Vice President Mr. Zhao Zhihui and former Vice President Mr. Tan Qi, accompanied the inspection visit.

Founded in 1945, FAO is the earliest permanent specialized agency within the United Nations system and an international organization where member states discuss food and agriculture issues. The Institute of Edible Fungi, SAAS was established in 1960. It is China’s earliest professional research institute of edible fungi with the most complete range of disciplines. It ranks first worldwide among edible fungi research institutions in terms of overall research capacity, disciplinary completeness and scale of achievement transformation. As the core of Shanghai’s edible fungi research cluster, the Institute of Edible Fungi has built a full-chain research framework covering germplasm resource exploration, genetic engineering, germplasm innovation, intelligent protected cultivation, recycling of agricultural and forestry waste, development of functional active substances, intensive product processing, industrial economics and international standards. Major breakthroughs have been achieved in variety innovation and core technologies. Three of its selected shiitake mushroom varieties have been listed among national leading varieties, and two technologies have been included in national promoted technologies. The market share of its "Shenxiang" and "Huxiang" series varieties exceed 50%.

Mr. Qu Dongyu congratulated Shanghai on its historic contributions to the edible fungi industry and commended Shanghai for advancing research, production and consumption of edible fungi in China and across the globe in an all-round manner. He stated that FAO fully supports Shanghai’s edible fungi industrial technologies in "going global and bringing in expertise". Rooted in Shanghai, oriented towards the whole nation and the world, the industry can play an even greater role globally.

Mr. Feng Zhiyong extended a warm welcome to Mr. Qu Dongyu and his entourage. He noted that Director-General Qu has long cared about agricultural development in Shanghai. He expressed the hope to further strengthen cooperation with FAO and contribute "Shanghai’s strength" to delivering FAO’s "Four Betters" strategy proposed by Director-General Qu. Mr. Jin Junfeng thanked Mr. Qu Dongyu for his on-site visit and guidance on edible fungi research at SAAS. He hoped that, under FAO’s guidance, the "Four Betters" strategy can be implemented, and our academy can undertake more specific tasks of FAO to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including No Poverty, Zero Hunger, and Good Health and Well-being, contributing to global development.

At the International Science and Technology Exchange Center, Mr. Zhao Zhihui briefed Mr. Qu Dongyu and his delegation on research achievements across the whole industrial chain, including edible fungi germplasm innovation, efficient cultivation models and deep processing technologies. He systematically introduced overseas technical assistance in edible fungi and proposed that the global promotion and application of the edible fungi industry developed by SAAS can provide an "edible fungi solution" and contribute "Shanghai’s strength" to fulfilling the global targets set out in the United Nations’ Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Both sides held in-depth exchanges on scientific and technological innovation, achievement commercialization and international cooperation of Shanghai’s edible fungi industry. Prior to the meeting, Mr. Qu Dongyu and his entourage visited the pilot platforms for new edible fungi varieties and functional foods, as well as the exhibition of scientific research achievements of SAAS. Mr. Zhang Jinsong, Director of the Institute of Edible Fungi, gave a detailed introduction to the institute’s development history, scientific and technological innovation, research platform development, international cooperation and rural revitalization work.

Relevant officials from Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and functional departments and affiliated research institutes of our academy attended the inspection.