World AgriFood Innovation Conference 2026 to Be Held in Beijing, Green Transformation in Focus

Dragon Media News Desk

The 2026 World AgriFood Innovation Conference (WAFI 2026) will be held from September 17 to 19 in Pinggu District in northeastern Beijing, with this year’s event focusing on the theme “Green and Healthy Transformation of AgriFood Systems.”

According to information released at a press conference in Beijing, the three-day event will feature an opening ceremony, parallel sessions, thematic forums, specialized meetings, side events, innovation showcases and an exhibition. The conference aims to bring together issues ranging from agricultural production and food distribution to technology, environmental sustainability, nutrition and sustainable development.

One of the major highlights this year will be the Champions 12.3 Annual Forum on food loss and waste reduction, which will be hosted in China for the first time. Policymakers, experts and business representatives from different countries are expected to discuss ways to accelerate global efforts to reduce food loss across production, distribution and consumption.

The AKADEMIYA2063 China-Africa AgriFood Systems Green Innovation Forum will also be a major part of the conference. It will focus on cooperation between China and Africa in digital intelligence, the bioeconomy and the green transformation of agrifood systems. Separate regional exchange meetings involving Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa will also be organized.

Organizers said three former heads of state or government, along with nearly 300 scholars, representatives of international organizations, business leaders and young innovators from around the world, have confirmed their participation. Youth representatives and entrepreneurs from the Taiwan region have also been specially invited as part of efforts to promote cross-Strait agricultural cooperation.

The Global AgriFood Innovation Alliance, or GAIA, is expected to be launched during the conference. The alliance is intended to serve as a long-term platform connecting research, technology, investment and international cooperation in agrifood systems.

Participants will also be introduced to 15 demonstration sites in Pinggu, including the National Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Hub. These sites will showcase developments in smart agriculture, modern production technologies, biological innovation and the commercial transformation of agricultural industries.

The WAFI Innovation Pitch Show will continue this year with several themed sessions. Organizers said the programme has already attracted more than five million online views. The latest edition will feature presentations on emerging agricultural technologies, enterprises and research projects.

The conference is jointly organized by China Agricultural University, the Pinggu District Government, the Beijing Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau and CGIAR. Since its launch in 2023, WAFI has developed into an international platform promoting integrated innovation across agrifood systems and has attracted participants from 94 countries and regions.

Through the conference, host district Pinggu also aims to deepen cooperation with international organizations including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme. The organizers expect the event to attract agricultural research institutions, technology companies, investors and innovation projects while supporting the establishment of high-quality agricultural projects and enterprises in Pinggu.

With climate change, food security, rising agricultural costs, pressure on natural resources and food waste emerging as major global challenges, WAFI 2026 is expected to focus on how technology, policy and international cooperation can help make agrifood systems greener, healthier and more sustainable.