From March 5th to 7th 2008, training on rural environment management was held in Chengdu, Sichuan, by China-Canada ¡°Small Farmers Adapting to Global Markets (SFAGM)¡± project. The training involved 30 participants including SFAGM project staff, environment sustainability focal points from Chinese partners, and personnel from agriculture and animal husbandry authorities in Sichuan and Inner Mongolia.

Environment sustainability is the basic requirement of all CIDA agricultural development projects, and this training is the first since the SFAGM environment sustainability network was established in October 2007. On the opening ceremony of the training, Hu Song, Assistant Manager of SFAGM, introduced the progress of the project in China, and CIDA requirements on environment sustainability. Dr. Chi Chang, an SADP expert stationed in Sichuan, Prof. Shi Minjun and Prof. Hu Zhengyi from the CAS Graduate School, Prof. Dong Renjie from China Agriculture University respectively, gave lectures on Canada¡¯s experience in sustainable agricultural development, strategies and models in rural environment management, SFAGM environment management, scientific application of fertilizers and farm environment management, livestock & poultry waste management and the utilization of livestock waste as resources, etc. After lectures, Sichuan Livestock & Poultry Fine-Breeding Station organized a visit to a pilot project for rural circular economy in Shuangliu County, Chengdu. Through the visit, participants understood about the model of rural environment management featured by circular economy and the combination of cropping and livestock farming.

Two achievements have been made through this training. First, according to trainees, this training for the first time provided a comprehensive understanding of the challenges we face to secure environment sustainability in agricultural development, and helped them identify future objectives. Participants have pledged to take environment sustainability into consideration whenever possible in their future work. Second, through communication with participants, experts were able to understand difficulties and problems facing local agencies in implementing environment sustainability strategies. This will allow experts to further research on suitable technologies and policies. Just as Prof. Hu Zhengyi said, ¡°The SFAGM training integrates technologies, policies and management, which is an excellent approach to problem solution. China¡¯s agriculture projects should borrow this approach.¡±