2026 Asia-Pacific Symposium on Potato and Sweetpotato Industry Cooperation Opens in Beijing
BEIJING, June 30, 2026 — The 2026 Asia-Pacific Symposium on Potato and Sweetpotato Industry Cooperation kicked off in Beijing on June 23. Hosted by the CIP-China Center for Asia Pacific (CCCAP) and organized by CCCAP’s Yunnan Workstation, the event brought together over 200 participants from more than a dozen countries for in-depth exchanges on the development of root and tuber crops.
Under the theme “Foster Global Synergy for Sustainable Potato and Sweetpotato Development”, the symposium draws government officials, members of the CIP Board of Trustees, diplomatic envoys to China, representatives of international organizations, scientists, and industry entrepreneurs from Peru, the United States, Canada, Britain, Chile, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries. Participants held extensive discussions on germplasm innovation, eco-friendly practices on disease prevention and control, digital agriculture, and cross-border industrial cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region.
The CCCAP 2030 Strategy was unveiled at the symposium. Dr. Simon Heck, Director General of the International Potato Center (CIP), said the strategy charts a roadmap for the sustainable development of the root and tuber crop sector in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to the achievement of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Development Initiative.
CIP launched its cooperation with China back in 1978, when its experts first arrived in the country to conduct joint research. Over nearly 50 years, this partnership has fostered full-industry-chain collaborative innovation for root and tuber crops. Over 7,000 potato germplasm resources have been introduced into China, with 2,002 core genetic materials preserved under standardized conditions. Nearly one-third of China’s major commercial potato varieties contain elite germplasm from CIP. Jointly bred varieties, including Cooperation 88, Qingshu 9, and Jizhangshu 8, have been widely adopted across the country.
The partnership has also delivered a late blight smart monitoring and early warning network across Asia, established seven joint laboratories and seven regional workstations, and trained more than 300 professional technicians from home and abroad. Together, these efforts have helped build a research and service network centered in China and covering the entire Asia-Pacific, offering both Chinese experience and a model for international cooperation in support of global food security.
China leads the world in both potato and sweetpotato output. Its potato planting area stands at 84.89 million mu (about 56,600 square kilometers), with an annual yield of 98.83 million tons, while the country also tops global rankings in sweetpotato cultivation area and total production. Root and tuber crops serve as a vital stabilizer in improving nutrition, supporting rural development, and strengthening food security.
Against mounting challenges, including worsening climate change, frequent pest outbreaks, and industrial transformation pressures, the Asia-Pacific region stands as the global heart of root and tuber crop production. Cross-border joint efforts are urgently needed to address shared bottlenecks in breeding, plant protection, production, and marketing. Built under the South-South Cooperation framework, the symposium serves as a specialized international platform for dialogue and exchange.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Xie Jianmin, Director of CCCAP. Speakers included Dr. Simon Heck, Director General of CIP; Helen Hambly, Chair of the CIP Board of Trustees; Wei Zhenglin from the Department of International Cooperation of China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Sun Tan, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS); H.E. Carlos Vásquez, Ambassador of Peru to China; Zhao Bing, China Country Representative of World Food Programme (WFP); Wei Qiwen, Vice President of the China Seed Association; and Gong Xifeng, Interim Country Director of the CGIAR China Office. Drawing on perspectives from global strategy, national policy, diplomacy, industry, and multilateral cooperation, the speakers highlighted the value and future paths of cross-border root and tuber crop cooperation.
Helen Hambly noted that CIP and China have maintained deep cooperation since 1985, yielding remarkable results in germplasm exchange, technological innovation, talent training, and platform building. She highlighted the establishment of CCCAP in 2010 through a joint initiative between CIP and the Chinese government brought substantial upgrades to hardware and software capacity. She extended sincere gratitude to the Chinese government and partner institutions for their consistent support, reaffirming the CIP Board’s commitment to supporting CCCAP as a regional hub to advance global South-South cooperation and agricultural technological progress.
Dr. Simon Heck stressed that root and tuber crops are strategic staple foods that help countries build resilience to climate risks, improve nutrition, and reduce poverty. He noted that the Asia-Pacific region is a key focus of CIP’s 2030 Strategy. For years, through the AsianBlight Network, CIP has shared disease prevention and field management technologies with countries including Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Pakistan. He also highlighted the fruitful results achieved through CIP’S joint research with China on germplasm conservation, regenerative agriculture, and urban food systems.
The newly released CCCAP 2030 Strategy aligns with CIP’s four core global research priorities and delivers localized solutions tailored to Asia-Pacific industrial needs. It puts forward four major initiatives: deepening joint conservation and sharing of germplasm resources, advancing joint research to drive industrial upgrading, scaling up regenerative agriculture models, and expanding inclusive partnerships via South-South Cooperation. The strategy aims to translate research breakthroughs into tangible income growth for farmers while advancing CIP’s core vision and mission.
Wei Zhenglin said authorities will continue to fully support CCCAP’s high-quality development by strengthening its research capacity and deepening strategic partnerships. He noted that these efforts will further advance South-South Cooperation, contributing to food security, poverty reduction, and sustainable agricultural development across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
Sun Tan said CAAS will continue to leverage its strengths in breeding, pest control, and germplasm preservation. By partnering with CCCAP, the Academy will deepen regional cooperation on root and tuber crops in three key areas: joint germplasm breeding, overseas demonstration of hybrid potato technologies, and exchanges of researchers and technologies. He emphasized that CAAS is committed to working with partner countries to bolster global food security and support poverty alleviation through the development of the root and tuber crop sector.
Wei Qiwen called for stronger cooperation in germplasm exchange and joint research on key technologies, including virus-free seed potato production, intelligent early warning systems, and precision agriculture. He also stressed the importance of building an open and inclusive multilateral cooperation framework for the root and tuber crop sector, noting that breakthroughs in seed innovation will be critical to ensuring industry security resilience and accelerating the sector’s green and low-carbon transition.
Gong Xifeng recounted the 40 years of CIP-China cooperation he has witnessed, hailing the landmark achievements of the partnership. He reaffirmed CGIAR’s commitment to strengthening links between CIP and major national agricultural research programs in China. He said CGIAR will continue to support exchanges among young scholars and the development of joint innovation platforms. Through South-South Cooperation initiatives, CGIAR will also help share China’s experience in poverty alleviation and root and tuber crop development to support agricultural transformation in developing countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The symposium also featured keynote presentations by two leading scientists from China’s national agricultural technology systems. Xu Jianfei, Chief Scientist of the National Potato Industry Technology System, outlined pathways for high-quality potato industry growth driven by four-pronged agricultural development. Li Qiang, Chief Scientist of the National Sweetpotato Industry Technology System, reviewed the current state of China’s sweetpotato sector, technological breakthroughs, and future directions for industry upgrading.
Experts from Britain, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Pakistan, and other countries, alongside research teams from China Agricultural University, Nanjing Agricultural University, CAAS, and other domestic institutions, shared cutting-edge research outcomes in AI-powered late blight early warning, tetraploid potato pan-genomes, diploid hybrid breeding, sweetpotato germplasm preservation, breeding for stress resistance, and regenerative agriculture. The presentations spanned genetic breeding, digital agriculture, low-temperature germplasm storage, green pest management, and cross-border industrial connectivity.
A dedicated business-matching session was also held during the symposium, offering one-on-one opportunities for Asia-Pacific governments, research institutes, root and tuber crop processors, and seed potato enterprises to explore potential partnerships. The session aims to speed up the implementation of joint breeding projects, investment projects, and cross-border agricultural trade cooperation.