Picture courtesy: China Association of Agricultural Science Societies

Beijing (CSAM) — Young scientists and renowned experts from China and around the world gathered at the “Digital Agriculture and Smart Agricultural Machinery” Youth Scientist Salon on July 15 in Beijing and online to share recent research accomplishments in the field of intelligent agricultural machinery equipment.

Organized by China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and hosted by China Association of Agricultural Science Societies (CAASS), this Youth Scientist Salon aimed to strengthen international exchange and cooperation, stimulate innovation and creativity of young talents, and promote high-quality development of digital agriculture and intelligent agricultural machinery industry.

CSAM supported the full-day event as co-organizer together with the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering (CSAE), the FAO Representation in China, the German Agricultural Society, and the Information Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China. The Salon was held in hybrid mode. Over 30 experts attended and over 100,000 people tuned in via live streaming of the event.

Opening with two reports from distinguished experts Mr. Luo Xiwen, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Mr. Lan Yubin, Foreign Academician of the European Academy of Sciences, Art, and Humanities, the event also featured a series of keynote addresses by scientists from China, Germany, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, on topics ranging from new-generation sensors measuring agricultural gases to spectral imaging for plant phenotyping and autonomous operation of intelligent unmanned machinery.

On behalf of CSAM, Mr. Marco Silvestri, Programme Management Officer, delivered remarks during the opening session highlighting the need for smart technologies to be made available and affordable for smallholder farmers in our region, to help address the current food insecurity and achieve the 2030 Agenda.

The keynotes were followed by expert comments, and a round table discussion, engaging with topics such as the application of smart agricultural machinery in the development of digital agriculture and the integrated development of agricultural mechanization, informatization, and intellectualization.

Supporting Youth Scientist Salon is part of CSAM’s ongoing efforts to engage the youth in agricultural mechanization and to raise public awareness and science literacy about digital agriculture and smart agricultural machinery in the Asia-Pacific region.

Picture courtesy: China Association of Agricultural Science Societies

Picture courtesy: China Association of Agricultural Science Societies