On 13 September, sponsored by China-Canada Small Farmers Adapting to Global Markets Project (SFAGM), Agricultural Commission of Chengdu City and People’s Government of Pengzhou City, the 2007 Longmenshan International Forum on Vegetable Industrial Development” opened at the Administrative Center of Pengzhou, Chengdu. Mr. Men Sheng, Party Secretary of Pengzhou City and Chairman of the Municipal People’s Congress, delivered a welcoming speech. Tian Mingjun, Director of Gardening Technology Division, Agricultural Technology Promotion Center of MOA, Hu Song, assistant to project manager of SFAGM, and Jin Jiaxiang, Director of Agricultural Commission of Chengdu City, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Zhang Enchou, Vice-Chair of Chengdu Municipal People’s Political Consultative Conference, declared the forum open.

At the forum, Glen Sweetman, a vegetable expert from Saskatchewan, Canada, introduced Canada’s experience of vegetable chain development and the post-harvest techniques for vegetables. Ding Jianwu, a deputy director from National Development and Reform Commission, made a special report on the cold-chain development of agricultural products. Xiao Yunlai, director of Planning & Designing Institute of MOA, explained the policy trend for new countryside construction and modern agriculture development. Hu Dinghuan, a research fellow from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, talked about the role of food safety and supermarkets in promoting the development of vegetable industrial chain. Zhang Xuejie, an associate research fellow from Vegetables & Flowers Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, reviewed the development of vegetable industry in China. Agricultural experts in Sichuan introduced the development of vegetable industry in Sichuan. All the experts at the meeting discussed with the local government over the strategy for development of vegetable industry in Pengzhou.

At the forum, a total of 14 modern agriculture projects were promoted, with a total investment of about RMB5.2 billion yuan. To be specific, they were 6 projects for vegetable processing, investing about RMB800 million yuan; 1 project for logistics of agricultural products, investing RMB300 million yuan; and 7 other projects, investing about RMB4.1 billion yuan. Also, 6 projects, with a total investment of RMB406 million yuan, were signed on the site. To be specific, they were 3 projects for vegetable processing, investing RMB130 million yuan; 1 project for air conditioned vegetable storages, investing RMB160 million yuan; 1 project for a distribution center of vegetables, investing RMB16 million yuan; and 1 project of building vegetable production bases for supply to Hong Kong and Macao, investing RMB100 million yuan.

This forum displays the achievements that the project has made over the past three years, and publicized the new situation of vegetable industry in Pengzhou. It will be sure to greatly promote the development of the local vegetable supply chain.