
Academician Zhang Qifa of Huazhong Agricultural University delivers a keynote report at the event. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) held the International Symposium on Micronutrients in Crops and the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Micronutrient Research from Nov 14 to 17. The event attracted over 300 top experts, scholars, industry leaders, and agricultural extension workers from countries including China, Japan, the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, Germany, and Egypt.
The conference summarized the last half-century of scientific development in the field. Through over 40 academic presentations, new fertilizer product exhibitions, and industry-academia dialogue sessions, participants presented the latest progress in plant micronutrient nutrition mechanisms, fertilizer development, and human health. The discussions emphasized the critical role of micronutrients in sustainable agriculture and human health, setting a blueprint for the future of research and industrial development.
Academician Zhang Qifa of HZAU delivered a keynote report titled "Whole Grain Action and Green Nutrition Super Rice for a Healthy Anthropocene", highlighting the significant role of micronutrients in enhancing crop nutrition.
Additionally, international scholars from institutions such as Tanta University (Egypt), La Trobe University (Australia), Anglia Ruskin University (the UK), and the University of Bonn (Germany) shared their cutting-edge findings on the transport, homeostatic regulation, and stress resistance mechanisms of specific micronutrients like boron, iron, and zinc.