Hey there, eco-warriors! Guess what's making waves at the World Agrifood Innovation Conference (WAFI 2024) in Beijing? 🌍✨ They're not just talking about sustainability—they're planting it! 🌱
This year, WAFI introduced plantable leaflets made from renewable resources and embedded with seeds. Imagine taking a flyer home, soaking it, planting it, and watching it grow into beautiful flowers! 🌸 How cool is that?
\"It's a fantastic way to promote waste reuse and environmental protection,\" shared Xing Luting from the Shanghai Agricultural Sci-tech Service Center. She's so pumped about it that she took ten leaflets back for her colleagues! 🥳
Participants from all over the globe are loving these green initiatives. Ravindra Dekate from India, who focuses on waste reuse, said, \"Conference materials usually end up in the trash after one use, but now they have a new lease on life.\" ♻️
Walking around the venue, attendees find low-carbon tips everywhere—using reusable bottles, hopping on public transport, and going digital with documents. It's like a sustainability treasure hunt! 🕵️♀️🌿
With about 800 experts from over 70 countries and regions, WAFI 2024 is all about low-carbon transitions in agrifood systems through sci-tech innovation. \"We're committed to a green conference model,\" said Fu Wenge, secretary-general of the advisory board and a professor at China Agricultural University (CAU).
China is pushing hard for green and sustainable development, aiming for carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. \"Green practices should be everywhere, including conferences,\" Fu emphasized. 💪🌳
But wait, there's more! The dining experience is also eco-friendly with a buffet full of plant-based options. 🍅🥦 DeePro Technology, a Chinese food tech company, provides plant-protein meat that replaces 60% to 70% of traditional meat in dishes like sauced beef and luncheon meat. Yum! 😋
\"It's really useful that the conference is providing this,\" said James Sharp from the UK Department for Business and Trade. \"It's a powerful way to inspire changes among attendees.\" 🎯
DeePro's founder, Zhang Wei, highlighted the benefits: their plant-based protein addresses food shortages and cuts down the carbon footprint from animal agriculture. Talk about a win-win! 🏆🌎
And get this—90% of the food served is locally sourced, cutting down on transportation emissions. Now that's thinking globally and acting locally! 🚜🛤️
To top it all off, there was a low-carbon-themed recreational run on Saturday. Attendees laced up their sneakers to embrace sustainable lifestyles and commit to eco-friendly choices. 🏃♂️🌟 \"Our concept for the conference is to go green in every aspect,\" Fu stressed.
WAFI, initiated in 2023, aims to be a world-class platform for global agrifood innovation. It's co-organized by the government of Pinggu District of Beijing, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, CAU, and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Stay tuned for more green innovations, and let's all take a leaf out of WAFI's book—literally! 📖🌿
Reference(s):
Plantable leaflets showcase low-carbon concept at WAFI 2024 conference
cgtn.com
