Inaugural workshop and launch of Secretariat Office of China-UK Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network (SAIN)

China-UK Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network (SAIN) held its inaugural workshop and launched its China secretariat office in Northwest A&F University, Yangling, on 5th November 2008.
The workshop was jointly held with Yangling International Agri-Science Forum with the theme of “Circular Agriculture-Technologies and Policies” which covers the aspects of (i) theory and development of circular agriculture; (ii) circular agriculture and the environment; (iii) Bio-energy and circular agriculture and (iv) Policy for circular agriculture. The workshop was sponsored by RCUK’s China office.
Jeremy Eppel, Deputy Director of Farming for Future Programme, UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Zhao Youhui, Deputy Director of Department of Introduce and Development, Ministry of Agriculture, unveiled the plaque for SAIN’s China Secretariat Office. The ceremony was honoured by the presence of senior officials from Shaanxi Provincial Government, Ministry of Agriculture, Norwest A&F University, UK Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs, UK-China Sustainable Development Dialogue (SDD) Programme, RCUK China Office and over hundred participants of the workshop.

The ceremony was chaired by Prof. Zhao Zhong, administrative vice president of Northwest A & F University, Professor David Norse, leading consultant to the establishment of SAIN introduced origin, operation mode and priority working areas of SAIN. Jeremy Eppel, Leo Horn, National coordinator of SDD, Zhao Youhui, Yu Jianbo, Director, Department of Agriculture of Shaanxi Provncial Government, Prof Wu Pute, Vice President of Northwest A&F University delivered congratulatory speeches. Professor Sun Wuxue, President, Hou Xi, Vice President of Northwest A&F University also attended the ceremony.