June 12, Changsha, China – The 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) officially opened today in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. BGI Group unveiled its innovative technologies and products while highlighting significant achievements from its long-standing collaborations with African nations.
African visitors engage with BGI Group representatives to discuss products and services at the BGI Group booth at the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo.
At this year’s expo, BGI Group introduced a suite of groundbreaking agricultural innovations, including perennial rice technology, Ethiopian coffee products, and microbial inoculants, bringing fresh momentum to agricultural development across Africa.
As the world’s first commercially viable perennial crop certified by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, BGI Group’s perennial rice offers a revolutionary “plant once, harvest for years” solution, significantly reducing the labor-intensive processes of traditional rice farming. With its unique characteristics, perennial rice promotes a resource-efficient, environmentally friendly approach to sustainable rice production.
Ugandan farmers harvesting perennial rice, April 2024.
BGI Group also showcased its proprietary series of microbial inoculants, which have demonstrated proven results in enhancing crop health and productivity. These inoculants promote root growth, resist disease, and improve crop yields. In 2024, a large-scale demonstration of BGI’s inoculants on soybean and rice fields in Heilongjiang Province recorded yield increases of 8.9%-15.4% for soybeans and 8.2%-12.8% for rice, emphasizing the transformative potential of biotechnology in agriculture.
Dedicated to addressing food security challenges through research and technological collaboration, BGI has partnered with several African nations to advance agricultural innovation. In 2023, BGI’s perennial rice was incorporated into the African Union’s agricultural technology promotion framework as part of the African Seed and Biotechnology Program (ASBP) for 2024-2025. This sustainable crop is now being cultivated in Uganda, Burundi, Mozambique, Madagascar, and other African nations, fostering mutual growth and talent exchange.
Beyond agriculture, BGI Group has been a steadfast partner to African countries in enhancing public health capabilities. During the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, BGI swiftly deployed technical teams to Sierra Leone to support virus detection and epidemic prevention. Since then, BGI has deepened its public health collaborations, helping countries like South Africa and Ethiopia establish high-level laboratories, supporting COVID-19 response efforts, and conducting cervical cancer screening programs in Rwanda. These initiatives underscore BGI’s commitment to improving healthcare and safeguarding livelihoods across Africa through genetic technology.
Driven by its commitment to "Omics for All," BGI Group remains dedicated to strengthening its partnerships with African nations in public health, food security, and talent development. Through innovation and collaboration, BGI Group and its African partners are working together to build a brighter, more sustainable future.