World AgriFood Innovation (WAFI) Conference

50 days to #WAFI2026. As agrifood systems worldwide undergo profound transformation, ensuring food security remains a shared responsibility — one that calls for stronger collaboration across science, education, industry, policy and the global community. Marking the 50-day countdown to the 2026 World AgriFood Innovation Conference (WAFI2026), Prof. Wei Chen, President of China Agricultural University (CAU), shares a message with the global agrifood community. As one of the organizers of WAFI, China Agricultural University brings its longstanding strengths in agricultural research, education and innovation to the conference, helping connect scientific progress and talent with the real challenges facing agrifood systems. Since its launch, WAFI has grown into an international platform connecting ideas, innovation and collaboration across countries and sectors. As Prof. Chen highlights: “We hope WAFI can help turn more new ideas, technologies and models into concrete actions that advance global agriculture, improve nutrition and health, and enhance human well-being.” That ambition is at the heart of WAFI: bringing global knowledge and innovation together — and turning connection into action. In 50 days, we will gather again in Beijing to continue that work. 📅 September 17–19, 2026 📍 Beijing · Pinggu, China 🌱 Green and Healthy Transformation of Agrifood Systems Innovating AgriFood, Sharing the Future. See you at WAFI2026！

AAA in Beijing: from technology transfer to delivery Africa doesn't lack agricultural ambition. China doesn't lack agricultural technologies.   The real question is how the two work together — and turn that into projects that get financed and built.   That was the focus of the WAFI Dialogue on 18 July in Beijing, where AAA Initiative’s representative Karim Anegay joined Prof. Qixin Sun (China Agricultural University, WAFI Advisory Committee) for an exchange on climate adaptation and China–Africa agricultural innovation, moderated by Prof. Shenggen Fan.   The takeaway that stuck with us:   Africa's challenge isn't a shortage of strategy. It's the gap between policy commitments and projects ready to finance and implement.   Closing that gap means moving past one-way technology transfer, toward joint research, localized innovation and long-term capacity building — built around local soils, farming systems and farmer needs.   This is exactly where AAA works: mobilizing climate finance for African agriculture, developing climate-smart projects, and strengthening capacity in project preparation, policymaking and negotiation.   We're excited about what deeper cooperation between AAA and WAFI could unlock — connecting African adaptation data and project pipelines to a wider network of researchers, companies and investors, and turning commitments into delivery.   Full recap of the dialogue 👇 https://lnkd.in/eVeKa_hV   #ClimateAdaptation #AfricanAgriculture #ChinaAfricaCooperation #WAFI2026 #AAAInitiative

What does it take for agrifood innovation to succeed in the Middle East? At the WAFI2026 Global Agrifood Innovation Roadshow – Middle East Session, seven projects presented solutions addressing water scarcity, food security, climate resilience and circular resource use. But the discussion went beyond the technologies themselves. 🔸 Can they work under local conditions? 🔸 Can they demonstrate measurable value? 🔸 Can they find the right partners and move from pilot to commercial deployment? From AI-powered aquaculture and smart greenhouse systems to wastewater reuse, biodegradable materials, land intelligence and root-zone robotics, the session showed that meaningful innovation begins with real regional needs. As Eng. Rakan Abdulaziz Bin Sagr, Secretary-General of the Saudi AgriFood Tech Alliance (SAFTA) التحالف السعودي لتقنيات الزراعة والغذاء, emphasized: “Don’t enter Saudi Arabia by trying to sell. Enter by trying to solve a problem.” Read our latest article for key insights from the session and a closer look at how global agrifood innovation can take root in the Middle East. #WAFI2026 #AgrifoodInnovation #MiddleEast #SaudiArabia #AgriTech #FoodSecurity #WaterInnovation #ClimateResilience #SustainableAgriculture

What will shape the next generation of agrifood innovation in the Middle East? On 21 July, the WAFI2026 Global Agrifood Innovation Roadshow – Middle East Special Session will bring together innovators, industry leaders, investors and international experts to explore emerging solutions for more resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. The session will feature a keynote on agrifood innovation opportunities in Saudi Arabia by Eng. Rakan Abdulaziz Bin Sagr, Secretary General of the Saudi AgriFood Tech Alliance (SAFTA) التحالف السعودي لتقنيات الزراعة والغذاء , followed by seven project pitches covering smart #aquaculture, #AIoT-enabled agriculture, #wastewater recycling, #biodegradable materials, agricultural decision-making and root-zone #soil intelligence. We are pleased to welcome our international judging panel: Aalt Dijkhuizen Co-Chair, WAFI Global AgriFood Innovation Alliance; Former President, Wageningen University & Research; Co-Founder of Agri-AI BV Aidan Connolly President, AgriTech Capital; Former President, IFAMA Global Network Ming Gu Founding Partner, Eightfold Ventures Andrew Yip, PhD Research Scientist, KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) 📅 21 July 2026 🕓 16:00–18:50 Beijing Time 💻 Online via Zoom and livestream Join us to discover new technologies, hear expert perspectives and explore new opportunities for agrifood innovation and international cooperation. #WAFI2026 #AgrifoodInnovation #MiddleEast #AgTech #FoodTech #SustainableAgriculture #SaudiArabia

Africa does not lack agricultural ambition. China does not lack agricultural technologies. The real question is how the two can work together to turn innovation into solutions that are locally relevant, investable and scalable. In our latest #WAFIDialogue, Prof. Qixin Sun, Karim Anegay and Prof. Shenggen Fan discussed what meaningful China–Africa agricultural cooperation could look like under growing climate pressure. A few key takeaways: 🔸 Agricultural resilience requires more than one technology. Infrastructure, crop innovation, insurance, financing and local capacity must work together. 🔸 Africa’s challenge is not only ambition, but implementation and delivery. 🔸 And future cooperation should move beyond one-way technology transfer toward joint research, localized innovation, demonstration projects and long-term capacity building. This article shares the main insights from the conversation—and explores how China–Africa cooperation can move from dialogue to projects and measurable results. Read the full article below. #WAFIDialogue #ChinaAfricaCooperation #AgriculturalInnovation #ClimateResilience #AgrifoodSystems #WAFI2026

🌍 Live this Saturday: #WAFIDialogue How can innovation help agrifood systems respond to climate change—and open new opportunities for China–Africa agricultural cooperation? Join Prof. Qixin Sun, Co-Chair of the WAFI Advisory Committee and Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, in conversation with Karim Anegay, Consultant to AAA Initiative. The dialogue will be moderated by Prof. Shenggen Fan, Executive Chair of the WAFI Advisory Committee, Chair Professor of China Agricultural University, and Dean of the Academy of Global Food Economics and Policy(AGFEP). 📅 18 July 2026 🕑 14:00–14:30 Beijing Time 📍 Live on LinkedIn, YouTube, WAFI WeChat Topics will include climate-resilient agriculture, the role of innovation in adaptation and emissions reduction, and future opportunities for China–Africa collaboration. Join us live and be part of the conversation. #WAFI2026 #WAFIDialogue #ClimateAction #AgrifoodSystems #ChinaAfricaCooperation #AgriculturalInnovation

Agrifood innovation is not only about developing better technologies — it is about helping those technologies move from research, farms and pilot sites into real markets, partnerships and scalable impact. That was the focus of the WAFI2026 Global AgriFood Innovation Roadshow — Australia Special Session, held on 9 July and livestreamed across international and Chinese platforms, reaching more than 800,000 online views. Co-hosted with the Australia China Agribusiness Association (ACABA) and the Australia NIC Incubation Center, the session brought together innovators, investors, research institutions and industry partners from Australia and China. Special thanks to 姜Jiang彦Jack and Arina Tang for their support in making this session possible. As Professor Hongbo (Bonnie) Liu Ph.D noted, the roadshow is designed to support food systems transformation through “innovation, collaboration and real-world application.” Five featured projects showcased solutions across greenhouse cooling, precision livestock, fruit harvesting robotics, operational intelligence and circular food processing — reflecting the breadth of agrifood innovation emerging across the value chain. A sincere thank you to our judging panel for sharing their time and expertise: Aidan Connolly, President of AgriTech Capital and former President of IFAMA Global Network Kim Xie, Founding Partner of Red Capital Pty Ltd Jonathon Quigley, Managing Partner of Cultiv8 Funds Management Dee Zheng, Principal at Bits x Bites This is the role WAFI hopes to continue playing: connecting agrifood innovation with industry, capital, markets and real-world application. 📍 WAFI2026 17–19 September 2026 Beijing, China Read the full article below. #WAFI2026 #AgriFoodInnovation #AgTech #FoodSystems #ChinaAustralia #SustainableAgriculture #InnovationEcosystem #GlobalCollaboration #GAIA

How can agrifood systems become more resilient in an era of uncertainty? On July 10, we are pleased to share the English-version launch of the 2026 China and Global Food Policy Report, prepared by the Academy of Global Food Economics and Policy(AGFEP). This year’s report focuses on “Building Resilient Agrifood Systems,” using a food systems approach to examine the risk challenges facing production, supply chains, markets, consumption, policy, and finance. Through multidisciplinary analysis, CGE models, resilience indicator systems, case studies, micro-surveys, macro-data, and fiscal and financial policy perspectives, the report provides timely research support and decision-making references for policymakers, researchers, international organizations, industry stakeholders, and the broader agrifood community. As WAFI continues to advance global dialogue on agrifood systems transformation under the leadership of Prof. Shenggen Fan, our Executive Chair, we are glad to help bring this important discussion to a wider international audience. Join the launch event online: Date: July 10, 2026 Time: 15:00-17:00 GMT+8 The Chinese version of the report was released on June 4, 2026 and is available here: https://lnkd.in/ea4K7hCC #FoodPolicy #AgrifoodSystems #FoodSystems #Resilience #AgriculturalInnovation #WAFI2026

Australian agrifood innovation is coming to the WAFI2026 Global Agrifood Innovation Roadshow. On July 9, the Australia Special Session will spotlight emerging projects in greenhouse energy-saving technologies, precision livestock production, fruit harvesting robotics, agri-food operational intelligence, and advanced pectin and fibre production. The session will feature two keynote speeches by Professor Hongbo (Bonnie) Liu Ph.D, Deputy Secretary-General of the WAFI Advisory Committee, and Arina Tang, Founder of the NIC, exploring China’s agrifood transformation, the WAFI global innovation ecosystem, Australia’s agrifood landscape, and China–Australia market, investment, and cooperation opportunities. We are pleased to welcome Aidan Connolly (IFAMA Global Network), Professor Wenge Fu (WAFI), Jonathon Quigley (Cultiv8 Funds Management), Kim Xie (Providence Fund Australia), and Dee Zheng (Bits x Bites) as our judge panel, bringing perspectives from global agritech strategy, agrifood entrepreneurship, venture investment, technology commercialization, and industry collaboration. 🗓️ : July 9, 2026 ⏲️ : 13:30–15:30 Beijing Time / 15:30–17:30 Sydney Time 🎦 Livestream: WAFI LinkedIn and YouTube channels Join us live. #WAFI2026 #AgrifoodInnovation #Agritech #FoodTech #AustraliaChina #InnovationRoadshow

Bruce Friedrich invites the global agrifood community to #WAFI2026 How can alternative proteins help shape a greener, healthier, and more resilient food future? In this message, Bruce Friedrich, Founder and President of The Good Food Institute (GFI), long-term WAFI speaker, and author of the new book Meat, invites partners from across the global agrifood community to join WAFI2026 in Beijing this September. His work on alternative proteins, food innovation, and the future of meat offers an important perspective on this year’s theme: “Green and Healthy Transformation of Agrifood Systems.” Since its launch, WAFI has hosted dedicated forums on alternative proteins and future foods, making this topic a continued part of its agenda. At WAFI2026, alternative proteins will remain an important area of discussion as we explore pathways for agrifood systems transformation. 📍 WAFI2026 17–19 September 2026 Beijing, China Registration is now open: https://lnkd.in/gkjryDmz #WAFI2026 #AlternativeProteins #FutureFood #FoodSystems #AgriFoodInnovation #SustainableAgriculture