To propel technological empowerment in Chengdu's food industry development, the “Kejinghui∙Science and Technology Innovation Ecological Partnership Program” - FOODTECH Exchange Meeting & UNIDO Global Call 2024 Chengdu Regional Promotion Event kicked off in Chengdu on the afternoon of June 28th. Co-hosted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization Investment and Technology Promotion Office (Beijing, China) (UNIDO ITPO Beijing), United Nations Industrial Development Organization Investment and Technology Promotion Office (Seoul, South Korea) (UNIDO ITPO Korea) and Chengdu Association for Science and Technology, the event attracted over 120 representatives from renowned enterprises and industry associations in the food technology field and Kejinghu∙Science and Technology Innovation Ecological Partnership Program.

During the keynote session, Dequan ZHANG, Director of the Institute of Urban Agriculture (IUA), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), delivered a speech titled Current Status and Trends in Food Technology Development. He highlighted that the food industry has emerged as the largest sector in manufacturing, marked by substantial advancements in core technologies facilitating the prefabrication of traditional foods and advancements in technological equipment. Looking ahead, the food industry is poised to concentrate on comprehensive integration throughout the industrial chain, intelligent manufacturing technologies, green and low-carbon production, and the development of characteristic nutritional foods. During the project promotion session, corporate representatives from New Hope Dairy, Chengdu Newsun Crop Science, Sichuan SNS Analysis and Detect, Kingdee, and Chengdu Hope Food respectively showcased various projects.

During the UNIDO Global Call 2024 Chengdu Regional Promotion Event, Professor Yabin WU, Head of UNIDO ITPO Beijing, delivered a speech indicating that the Global Call stands as a flagship competition of UNIDO. This year's theme on FOODTECH seeks to discover, identify, and evaluate technological innovations that revolutionize the food sector, addressing critical aspects of production, processing, storage, transportation and consumption. China’s strides in food technology are notable, and Chengdu, positioned as the central city in western China, boasts abundant resources and a rich culinary heritage. The dedicated promotion event of Global Call 2024 held in Chengdu aimed to galvanize active participation from enterprises across Chengdu, Sichuan, and western China. UNIDO ITPO Beijing will pledge technical and other forms of support for this initiative.

Maengho SHIN, Head of UNIDO ITPO Korea, delivered a presentation on Global Call 2024. He underscored the significant challenges faced by global food systems, including 780 million people suffering from hunger and one-third of food being wasted worldwide. Food technology, encompassing robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet and 3D printing, plays a pivotal role in addressing food system issues. Initiated by UNIDO ITPO Korea, Global Call 2024 aims to identify companies equipped with advanced innovative technologies to tackle critical problems within the global food system, thereby fostering a sustainable food ecosystem. SHIN encouraged active participation from enterprises in Chengdu and other regions.

The UNIDO Global Call 2024 was officially introduced and promoted in Chengdu during the event.

The event served as a pivotal platform for fostering dialogue in food technology, facilitating in-depth communication and collaborative development. It lays a solid foundation for Chengdu's technology firms and the food industry to enhance their global footprint and explore expanded avenues of development. Moving forward, UNIDO ITPO Beijing and UNIDO ITPO Korea are committed to strengthening partnerships with Chengdu Association for Science and Technology and other key stakeholders. This collaboration aims to integrate technological innovation into industrial practices, leverage China’s expertise to benefit more developing countries and accelerate progress towards achieving the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.