On 11 April 2019, a partner engagement event was organized for the Pilot Project on Integrated Straw Management in China in Laixi, Qingdao.

Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including China, are facing the issue of burning of straw residue which poses an important public health and environmental concern while also contributing to Greenhouse Gas emissions from the agricultural sector. In this context, the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has initiated a three-year Pilot Project on Integrated Straw Management through Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in China, and Vietnam to examine, improve and demonstrate selected technologies for using straw as fertilizer, as fodder, for biogas production and mushroom growing. More countries are also expected to participate in this initiative in future.  

The Pilot Project in China is a joint initiative of CSAM, China Agricultural University, Qingdao Administration of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Laixi Administration of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Qingdao Zhitao Agricultural Machinery Specialized Cooperative. Its objectives include:  

· to develop an innovative, circular and green model of integrated straw management for using straw residue as fertilizer, fodder and for green energy production;

· to enhance awareness of farmers and other key stakeholders on technologies and models for integrated straw management; and

· to upscale the application of successful integrated straw management technologies and models.

The partner engagement event was attended by representatives from all the partners as well as the local farming community. In addition, detailed on-site discussions were conducted with the partners on the work plan for the coming three years.