People’s Daily Overseas Edition | African Agricultural Officials and Technicians Visit BGI Group’s Experimental Fields — “We Learned How to Grow Rice in Shenzhen”

On June 14, 2025, People’s Daily Overseas Edition published a report in both text and video formats covering the 2025 African Perennial Rice Technology Training Program, jointly organized by the BGI Education Center and BGI Bioverse, as well as BGI Group’s participation in the 4th China–Africa Economic and Trade Expo.

The report noted that perennial rice, characterized by its water-saving and high-yield advantages, has the potential to significantly enhance Africa’s food self-sufficiency. It emphasized that strengthening joint research between Chinese and African scientific institutions and establishing long-term technical support mechanisms are key to successful technology implementation. Such cooperation, the report stated, “sets a global example of cooperation and win-win outcomes, demonstrating the responsibility and commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind.”

Recently, the 4th China–Africa Economic and Trade Expo was held in Changsha, China. At the event, the perennial rice technology showcased by BGI Group attracted widespread attention from African participants. As the world’s first commercially viable perennial grain crop certified by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), perennial rice has become a new focal point for China–Africa agricultural cooperation and has made important contributions to safeguarding Africa’s food security.

To promote the adoption of perennial rice technology in more African countries and to cultivate local technical talent, the 2025 African Perennial Rice Technology Training Program was held in Shenzhen. Thirty agricultural officials and technical professionals from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt, Gambia, and Cameroon participated in a five-day program combining theoretical learning and field practice at BGI Group headquarters and the BGI Bioverse agricultural base in Shenzhen. The program was hosted by the Academy for International Business Officials of the Ministry of Commerce of China, with support from the BGI Education Center and BGI Bioverse.

During the Grain Full season in Dapeng New District, Shenzhen, participants conducted hands-on training in the experimental fields of the BGI Bioverse agricultural base. Experts provided detailed instruction on the cultivation and management of perennial rice, while trainees practiced transplanting seedlings and field management techniques.

Participants highlighted the practical significance of perennial rice for their home countries. Representatives noted that perennial rice, which can be planted once and harvested continuously over multiple seasons depending on regional conditions, reduces labor intensity and production costs while maintaining stable yields. By eliminating repeated processes such as seasonal seed purchasing and transplanting, the technology offers an efficient and sustainable solution for rice production.

The training program systematically introduced the core technical principles and cultivation advantages of perennial rice, presenting an integrated solution based on one-time sowing with continuous harvests over several years. The curriculum combined classroom instruction with field practice, with practical training accounting for a significant proportion of the program to ensure effective knowledge transfer.

During thematic discussions, participants exchanged views on application prospects, localization challenges, and cooperation pathways for perennial rice technology across different African regions. Proposals included simplified cultivation models, the development of stress-resistant varieties for high-altitude areas, and customized solutions for saline-alkali soils. Participants agreed that sustained collaboration between Chinese and African research institutions, supported by long-term technical assistance, is essential for successful localization.

BGI Bioverse has continued to focus on advanced agricultural technologies since its establishment, actively introducing innovative technologies, products, and training programs to multiple African countries. Through cooperation in talent development, scientific research, and industrial implementation, BGI Group and its African partners have established a comprehensive cooperation framework around perennial rice technology.

In recent years, demonstration bases have been established in countries such as Uganda and Madagascar, and the “one planting, multiple harvests” model has been incorporated into the African Union’s agricultural technology promotion framework. Training programs have not only accelerated local adoption of innovative technologies, but also enabled field data from African trials to support ongoing research and breeding efforts, forming a positive cycle of technology application and scientific feedback.

Beyond perennial rice, BGI Group has also showcased related agricultural innovations, including perennial silage corn, microbial products, and value-added agricultural products such as Ethiopian coffee. By applying advanced technologies to processing and quality assessment, these initiatives have enhanced product value, improved farmers’ livelihoods, and supported African agricultural products in accessing global markets.

Upholding the mission of “genomic technologies benefiting humanity,” BGI Group continues to advance agricultural innovation and deepen China–Africa cooperation. Through technology sharing and capacity building, these efforts contribute to sustainable agricultural development, strengthen food security, and exemplify a model of cooperation and shared development on a global scale.

Content reproduced from People’s Daily Overseas Edition