On August 27, the kick‑off meeting for the key 2026 Academy‑Local Cooperation Project between the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province — Strategic Research on High‑quality Development of Yunnan’s Blueberry Industry — was held in Kunming. Academicians Zhu Youyong, Li Tianlai, Zou Xuexiao, Yu Jingquan and Zhang Shaoling from the Chinese Academy of Engineering attended the meeting. Li Yonghe, President of Yunnan Agricultural University, was present and delivered a speech. Li Changyou, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice‑President of Yunnan Provincial Academy of Science and Technology, presided over the meeting.
A consultation expert group was invited, consisting of Academicians Zhu Youyong, Li Tianlai, Zou Xuexiao and Yu Jingquan; Professor Sheng Jun, former President of Yunnan Agricultural University; Professor Li Weilin, Vice‑President of Nanjing Forestry University; Researcher Mu Weisong from China Agricultural University; Professor‑level Senior Researcher Li Bo, Party Secretary and Chairman of Shandong Grape Research Institute; Senior Engineer Nie Fei from the Blueberry Guiyang Comprehensive Experimental Station of the National Grape Industry Technology System; Researcher Cai Yanfei from the Flower Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences; and Professor Yang Zheng’an, Dean of the College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yunnan Agricultural University. Upon election at the meeting, Academician Zhu Youyong served as the group leader and chaired the expert consultation session.
Professor Dong Yang and Dr. Zhao Maoxiang from Yunnan Agricultural University, on behalf of the project team, delivered a report covering four aspects: an overview of Yunnan’s blueberry industry and planting development; challenges facing seed industry, cultivation and industrial‑chain development; research objectives, overall framework and task breakdown of the project; as well as project implementation plan, organizational guarantees and expected outcomes. Experts from the consultation group held discussions on the opening‑report and put forward research suggestions. After deliberation, they unanimously approved the official launch of the project.
On behalf of the project team, Academician Zhang Shaoling expressed gratitude for the high‑quality comments from all experts. He noted that substantial preparatory work had been completed half a year ahead of the meeting, including proposal drafting, task allocation, multiple on‑site seminars and repeated revision of project documents. China is a major global fruit producer with a total national fruit output of approximately 340 million metric tons, ranking third worldwide and accounting for about 35 % of global production. While staple fruits such as apples and pears make up roughly 40 % of total output and feature high yield with relatively low prices, niche, high‑end fruits including blueberries, Yunnan avocados and Hainan durians have achieved rapid growth and remarkable economic returns in recent years. Nevertheless, they are confronted with challenges such as heavy market‑cultivation pressure and prominent industrial bottlenecks, making the research highly demanding.
The project will focus on six key issues. First, industrial scale: scientifically assess consumer‑market capacity to avoid repeating the over‑expansion and oversupply setbacks seen with Sunshine Rose grapes. Second, germplasm resources: coordinate and integrate resources to build provincial‑ and even national‑level germplasm banks and carry out germplasm‑innovation research. Third, nursery stock: promote virus‑free, disease‑resistant and robust seedlings. Fourth, cultivation patterns and standardization: establish practical production‑standard systems accessible to enterprises and applicable across the industry. Fifth, quality and safety: food safety constitutes the bottom line for industrial development; safety incidents could deal devastating blows to the whole sector. Sixth, post‑harvest marketing and branding: foster large regional brands led by enterprises to increase farmers’ income and actively explore international markets.
For policy‑ and technology‑related recommendations, practical proposals concerning talent development, financial support and land policies shall be formulated. Hilly, sloped and mountainous non‑arable land shall be fully utilized for fruit‑tree cultivation. Meanwhile, industrial‑technology demands and bottleneck technical problems will be sorted out to strive for special‑provincial‑science‑and‑technology‑program funding and deliver sustained scientific‑and‑technological support for industrial growth. Going forward, the project team will further refine the implementation plan based on feedback from this kick‑off meeting. Field investigations will be conducted at production sites, universities and research institutes, together with in‑depth exchanges with farmers, to ensure all proposed measures are practical and implementable.
Leaders, experts and project‑team members from the following institutions attended the meeting: Nanjing Agricultural University, Yunnan Agricultural University, Nanjing Forestry University, China Agricultural University, Shandong Grape Research Institute, Blueberry Guiyang Comprehensive Experimental Station of the National Grape Industry Technology System, Flower Research Institute of Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Liaoning Fruit Research Institute, Shandong Fruit Research Institute, Alpine Economic Plant Research Institute of Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Green Food Development Center, Aimeizhuang Agricultural Group Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Chuangyun Investment Co., Ltd., Tai’an Woyuan Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Plateau Characteristic Agriculture Development Division of Yunnan Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yunnan Provincial Academy of Science and Technology, and Yunnan Institute of China Engineering Science and Technology Development Strategy.