New varieties and research centers announced at Yangcheng Strawberry Symposium

On March 17th, the 10th International Strawberry Symposium officially commenced in Yancheng, China. As one of the most influential global events in the strawberry industry, the symposium returns to China after 13 years, attracting more than 800 experts from over 26 countries.

Peter Vanderborght, Executive Chairman of the International Society for Horticultural Science, said at the opening ceremony, "Since the 7th International Strawberry Symposium was held in Beijing in 2012, we are gathering once again in China to share our passion and knowledge in strawberry research."

The symposium's theme, "Quality, Germplasm, Brand, Innovation," highlights humanity's goals for strawberry development. The event is organized by the Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (BAAFS) and the People's Government of Yancheng City.

Yancheng: A key region for strawberry production
Yancheng, located in Jiangsu Province, is a significant strawberry production region in China, with a planting area of 13,000 mu (approximately 866 hectares) and an annual production of around 30,000 tons. It also hosts the largest greenhouse facility for strawberry production in the country.

Jiangsu Province as a whole is home to 20 major strawberry production regions, covering approximately 20,000 hectares and yielding an annual output of around 600,000 tons. High-quality fresh strawberries and related processed products from Jiangsu are now distributed worldwide.

New strawberry varieties & innovations unveiled
On the first day of the event, 12 new strawberry varieties were introduced, including Yanmei No. 1, Jingxiang No. 2, Yanli, Jiande Red, Ji Jiu, and Zhongmei Xiangyu.

Additionally, the event showcased strawberry substrates, production machinery, irrigation equipment, water-soluble fertilizers, cultivation systems, and cutting-edge strawberry technologies.

Strawberry research centers officially announced
Professor Bruno Mezzetti, Chairman of the Berry Section of the International Society for Horticultural Science, and Ma Zhenghua, Secretary of the District Party Committee, jointly unveiled the International Advanced Technology Application and Promotion Center for Strawberries.

Furthermore, the Yandu Strawberry Industry Research Institute of Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences was officially announced during the conference.