
The opening ceremony of the first International Forum on Maize Biology held at Huazhong Agricultural University on Oct 17. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
The first International Forum on Maize Biology (IFMB), hosted by Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU), was held from Oct 17 to 19. The forum brought together over 500 scholars and researchers from 70 institutions across 10 countries, including China, the US, the UK, and France.
The IFMB was organized to promote cross-disciplinary exchange and international collaboration, aiming to accelerate breakthroughs in maize research and provide solutions for global food security challenges such as climate adaptation, yield enhancement, and nutritional optimization.
The event featured over 40 high-quality academic presentations across seven key areas of maize biology, covering the entire innovation chain from basic research to practical breeding applications.
The forum showcased world-class research. Professor Hilde Nelissen of Ghent University discussed mapping transcription profiles to understand plant growth, while Professor Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra from UC Davis shared insights into the 10,000-year history of human influence on maize diversity. Additionally, Professor Kelly Swarts of Umeå Plant Science Centre presented an analysis of the adaptive evolution of complex maize traits.
Chinese scholars presented equally compelling findings. Academician Zhang Qifa of HZAU advocated for developing "Green and Nutritious Super Rice" based on whole-grain black rice, promoting a revolution in the structure of staple food. Dr Li Xinhai of the China Academy of Agricultural Sciences, meanwhile, systematically evaluated global maize germplasm, identifying disease-resistant and drought-resistant materials.
Beyond the main sessions, the forum hosted a specialized workshop on "High-Impact Journal Publication", where senior international editors engaged with researchers to enhance the dissemination and influence of scientific output in the field.