Press Conference for World Soybean Research Conference VIII Held in Beijing

Press conference for World Soybean Research Conference VIII was held in Beijing on October 22, 2008. Professor Wang Lianzheng, the Vice-Chairman of World Soybean Research Conference VIII Organizing Committee and former Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Former President of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, introduced the background of WSRC and the overview of soybean research and production at home and abroad.

Professor Wang said that WSRC is the top event in soybean community, known as the "Soybean Olympics". It takes place every five years. Seven WSRCs have been held in different countries, including USA, Argentina, Thailand and Brazil. WSRC VIII will be held on August 10-15, 2009 in Beijing, China, with a theme of ¡°Developing a Global Soy Blueprint for a Safe, Secure and Sustainable Supply". The main topics of WSRC VIII include soybean germplasm, genetics and breeding, molecular biology and biotechnology, physiology and crop management, plant protection, soybean storage and processing, soybean products and use, global demand and supply, and trade strategies. The conference organizers are expanding the conference to include "Soybean Industry Forum" to develop a global soy blueprint for a safe, secure, and sustainable supply for food, feed, fiber and fuel, and also for the protection and use of wild soybean resources. In addition, an exhibition will be a part of the conference to showcase the new cultivars, new technology, and new products of soybean from around the world, which will surely serve as an ideal platform for the companies to further develop business, build brand recognition and establish international cooperation.

Professor Wang also pointed out China is the "birthplace" of soybean, with over 4000-year history of soybean cultivation. Soybean has been playing an irreplaceable role to Chinese in improving nutrition and maintaining health. Long period of farming practice brought us very rich experience in soybean planting, abundant soybean germplasm and the world well-known soyfood culture. Significant achievements have been achieved in soybean scientific research, especially in the field of soybean germplasm protection and genetic breeding during the last decades. Therefore, holding WSRC VIII in China will definitely enhance communication between Chinese soybean researchers and the international counterparts from soybean scientific community and soybean industry, demonstrate the new scientific achievements of soybean in China, promote international cooperation and technological innovation of Chinese soybean research groups, facilitate the technological progress and the overall strength promotion of soybean industry.

More than 30 national media, including Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, Science and Technology Daily, Guangming Daily, China Central Television, Beijing TV Station, China Radio International, and People's Daily Online, etc. have reported the news of press conference.