BGI Group marked the 80th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on October 16 with the presentation of a unique Chrysanthemum Stone to sit at the entrance of the newly renovated FAO campus in Rome.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu delivered a passionate speech, explaining the origin and meaning of the Chrysanthemum Stone and thanking BGI for the gift. This particular stone stands four meters tall, weighs five tons and originates from Director-General Qu's hometown of Hunan, China. The stone symbolizes resilience, strength and longevity; a reflection of FAO's work and commitment.

This chrysanthemum stone, originating from Liuyang, Hunan, stands four meters tall and weighs five tons. It stands at the entrance of the FAO building, adding a striking feature to the newly renovated FAO campus.

As part of its 80th anniversary celebrations and in the lead up to World Food Day on October 16, the FAO held its first "From Seeds to Foods" exhibition in Rome. This marks an important milestone in FAO’s commitment to end hunger and nutrition and promote The Four Betters – Better production, Better nutrition, a Better environment, and a Better life. BGI Group participated in the Chinese booth at the exhibition, showcasing perennial rice, microbial agents, and cutting-edge genomic sequencing platform. Director-General Qu Dongyu, King Letsie III of Lesotho, and Indonesian Minister of National Development Planning Rachmat Pambudy were among the visitors to the booth.

Director-General Qu Dongyu (second from left), King Letsie III of Lesotho (first from left) and others visited the Chinese booth.

China booth at the Asia-Pacific Pavilion of the first FAO "From Seeds to Foods" exhibition.

As a pioneer in agricultural technology innovation, BGI Group has been deeply engaged in the agricultural sector for over 20 years. From pioneering the whole-genome molecular breeding system to advancing agricultural microbiology research, from germplasm resource innovation to developing green planting technologies, BGI has built a comprehensive technological innovation system covering multiple key stages of agricultural production.

Among these innovations, perennial rice stands out as a simplified rice farming model that allows " plant once, harvest for years." This approach reduces several processes involved in traditional rice cultivation, promoting a shift in rice production toward resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. Currently, perennial rice is being cultivated in over 130 regions across 10 countries worldwide.

Having been included in the prestigious Science journal's "Top 10 Scientific Breakthroughs," recognized by China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs as a recommended staple crop, and endorsed by the FAO as a globally recommended variety, perennial rice achieved another milestone in June this year. It was incorporated into the List of the Outcomes of the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, becoming a model for agricultural science and technology collaboration in Africa.

Today, the chrysanthemum stone displayed at FAO headquarters symbolizes the profound friendship between the two sides and serves as a testament to BGI Group’s resolute commitment to participating in global food security governance through its scientific and technological strength. Looking ahead, BGI Group is eager to continue collaborating with FAO to transform more agricultural technology innovations into effective measures for ensuring global food security.