A focus on government-enterprise cooperation and a discussion of the “Belt and Road” agricultural cooperation

  Yesterday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) and Mars Inc. organized a series of visits and exchanges for the "Belt and Road" National Agricultural Product and Food Safety Seminar at the Mars Global Food Safety Center in Huairou, Beijing. At the event, the organizers shared China's practical experience in food safety and agricultural development. Wei Zhenglin, Deputy Director of the Center for International Cooperation Services; Yi Ting and Bao Chen, Directors of Mars' Department of Public Affairs in China; Alicia Silversey, Director of Communication and Training at Mars' Global Food Safety Center; Dr. Zhao Yueju, Senior Research Manager; Dr. Wen Ruoyu, Chief Scientist of Peanut Science; and agriculture representatives from various countries gathered in Beijing to discuss new directions in international agricultural cooperation.
　　
　Since the introduction of the "Belt and Road" initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) has actively engaged all levels of government agencies, social organizations, and well-known companies to promote is innovation in foreign agricultural cooperation methods and to expand the fields of such cooperation. In August this year, MARA collaborated with relevant departments and representatives from various industries to organize the month-long “Belt and Road” National Agricultural Production and Food Safety Seminar. Amongst them, Mars Inc., which upholds its “mutuality” principle, is a strong force of support for the work. Qin Min, Deputy Director of the Department of Public Affairs in China at Mars, said, “Mars maintains a long-term, friendly cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and regularly holds high-level meetings with the Ministry. Last year, Grant Reid, CEO of Mars Inc., met with the officials of MARA and reached an agreement to jointly embark on the “Belt and Road” agricultural and food training initiative. The preparation for the project stretched over a year, and was finally launched today. We hope that this cooperation can be institutionalized and turned into a long-term initiative, so that Mars can better contribute to the development of the agricultural and food industries in China as well as other countries along the Belt and Road."
　　
At the seminar, the host, Bao Chen, thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for its trust in the professional capabilities of Mars’ Global Food Safety Center and extended a warm welcome to the industry experts. Yi Ting gave an overview of Mars and Mars China to the representatives, while Deputy Director Wei Zhenling, expressed his appreciation and recognition of Mars’ long-term commitment towards investment and development in China, and its contributions towards China’s agricultural modernization. Director Wei added, “We look forward to further and deeper cooperation between both parties to make greater achievements in international cooperation in the agriculture and food industries.”
　　
Following the address, Alicia Silversey presented the Mars Global Food Safety Center’s work to the attendees, and gave a detailed account of its achievements in food safety technology and agricultural development, which impressed the experts. Dr. Zhao Yueju provided a review of the development and major technological breakthroughs of Mars Global Food Safety Center in mycotoxin risk management technology. Dr. Wen Ruoyu then shared a report on Mars’ promotion of China’s high-oleic acid peanut project, which focused on Mars’ experience in cultivar selection, breeding, inspection and research and cultivar management, and its progress in promoting good agricultural practices. During the training event, Mars’ staff engaged in active discussions with experts from various countries, and provided suggestions and recommendation on agricultural development in “Belt and Road” countries.
　　
After the training, the experts from various countries visited the laboratory at the Mars Global Food Safety Center, as well as Mars Wrigley Chocolate Factory in Huairou, where they were introduced to the processing of candies and snacks. Abigail Stevenson, Director of the Mars Global Food Safety Center, said "The Mars Global Food Safety Center is committed to working with international and domestic food safety experts on promoting food safety, and to share the results of our research in food safety with the whole world. We look forward to long-term collaboration with the Center for International Cooperation Services of the National Agro-Technical Extension and Service Center. In the future, Mars Global Food Safety Center would like to receive more friends from countries along the “Belt and Road”, and to discuss issues regarding food safety.”
　　
Guided by the Future Starts Now and the Five Principles, Mars has always been committed to working closely with the stakeholders, and to further raising the level of food safety management in industry by sharing relevant knowledge and the latest trends in the fields of food safety and agricultural development, so that the latest research can drive the development and raise the standards of agriculture in China and the rest of the world.