Gu Pengfei, secretary of the CPC Zigui county Committee, led a delegation to Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) on Sept 20. Gao Chi, secretary of the CPC HZAU Committee and Yao Jianglin, deputy secretary of the CPC HZAU Committee and vice-president of the university, welcomed the delegation.
In a pre-meeting discussion, Gao reaffirmed HZAU's commitment to supporting the development of Zigui's navel oranges as a brand.
He emphasized that the university would organize multidisciplinary expert teams to build a reputable image for Zigui navel oranges, with focuses on breeding, cultivation and marketing. The aim is to establish a solid foundation for further branding and enforcing strict production standards, fostering growth and securing the navel orange's position in both domestic and international markets, Gao said.
The two sides convened a symposium to explore deeper collaboration in agricultural productivity, technological innovation and talent cultivation.
Gu expressed gratitude for HZAU's support for the county. He outlined the demands for development of the local orange industry in five key areas: Introducing new varieties, developing deep-processing products, applying mechanization in mountainous orchards, creating a nationally recognized brand, and improving soil fertility and pest control. Experts discussed related topics, such as the establishment of brand standards.
Yao outlined the history of collaboration between HZAU and Zigui county. He suggested enhancing the partnership by clarifying roles, integrating resources and focusing on establishing a regional brand for Zigui navel oranges.
He also proposed hosting joint activities to celebrate the scientific spirit and encourage faculty and students to contribute to the development of the Zigui county.
The delegation concluded their visit with a tour of the National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops and the National Digital Orchard Innovation Sub-Center.
Zigui county in Central China's Hubei province is known as "hometown of Chinese navel oranges".