10th DCAW in Yancheng: Working together for more agroecology and biodiversity
The 10th Sino-German Agricultural Week (DCAW) took place in Yancheng, China, from Oct 21-23, 2024. More than 400 delegates from Germany and China as well as international experts exchanged views on research results, successful practices and methods of agroecology and biodiversity. The associated challenges were also discussed.
The DCAW is organized by the Sino-German Agricultural Centre (DCZ), a project of the bilateral cooperation programme of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), which also co-finances the DCAW. The DCZ is being implemented by IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH (lead partner) in a consortium with the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO).
Germany was represented by a high-ranking delegation, including Silvia Bender, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), Dr. Patricia Hildegard Flor, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Beijing, Friederike Dörfler, Agricultural Attaché at the German Embassy in Beijing, and Dieter Goertz, BMEL advisor. The delegation was complemented by representatives from science, practice and business. On the Chinese side, high-ranking representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), the Foreign Trade Cooperation Center (FECC), the Yancheng Municipal Government and the Jiangsu Provincial Government took part alongside experts from science, NGOs and business.
Highlights
China and Germany reaffirmed their progress and common interest in strengthening cooperation in the field of agroecology and biodiversity, which are crucial for food security and rural development. However, both countries also recognize the major challenges in implementing these approaches across the board. A key problem is finding ways to ensure that both the market and consumers are willing to pay higher prices for sustainably produced food. In addition, the protection of biodiversity must be made more financially attractive. Representatives of agricultural businesses and associations emphasized that this is often not the case and that many measures are discontinued after the end of state subsidies.
Holistic approaches such as the “landscape approach” could offer new solutions. Successful examples from both countries show that agroecological production and the protection of biodiversity are often combined with agritourism, regional marketing and the strengthening of local value chains. This combination helps to increase local added value and creates new local economic opportunities.
The event came to a festive close with the tenth anniversary of the DCAW. In a stylish setting, accompanied by culinary delights and a varied, culturally enriching evening program, the participants had the opportunity to further strengthen and deepen their relationships in a pleasant atmosphere.
You can take a more detailed look at the highlights on the DCZ website.