Faculty members and students from the College of Economics & Management at Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) attended the SuReFood Alliance 4th Annual International Conference at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in the Netherlands from July 15 to 17.
Held under the theme From Chopsticks to Crops: Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems, the conference brought together scholars and graduate students working on agricultural and rural development and on sustainable agri-food systems. Invited experts delivered keynote speeches on healthy diets, food systems, and related research.
HZAU participants chaired several sessions and presented studies on a range of topics including innovation in agricultural enterprises, value chains and cooperative business models, and farmers' socioeconomic transformation. Other subjects discussed included green agricultural reform, food governance, dietary patterns, and consumer behavior. They also shared their work through poster presentations and other academic sessions.
Before the conference, a job market session was held on July 15. Li Jian, the college's vice-dean, introduced its academic programs, research strengths and recruitment policies. He invited early-career scholars from China and abroad to explore career opportunities at the college.
During a closed meeting on July 17, WUR and HZAU signed an addendum to an existing memorandum of understanding, providing a basis for closer cooperation.
The conference strengthened exchanges between the two universities and supported further collaboration in agricultural economics and sustainable agri-food systems.