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UCA Rector Participated in the World AgriFood Innovation Conference in Beijing
The University of Central Asia’s Rector, Professor Christopher Gerry, took part in the World AgriFood Innovation (WAFI) Conference held in Beijing from 11 to 15 October 2025. WAFI, first launched in 2023, has rapidly become one of the world’s leading global agriculture events — often referred to as the “Davos of agriculture.” This year’s theme, “Resilient Food Supply for Agrifood Systems Transformation,” brought together policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to exchange insights and showcase cutting-edge innovations in the global agri-food sector. The conference was held alongside the 2025 WAFI Expo, which featured frontier technologies, advanced models, and high-value projects shaping the future of sustainable agriculture.
Professor Gerry was invited to open the first pre-forum event on 11 October — a workshop on “Climate Change and Agrifood Systems.” In his remarks, he discussed the challenges of achieving food security in Central Asia and underscored three key points:
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Mountains as the frontline of climate change and the headwaters of food security.
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Agro-biodiversity as a vital insurance policy against the uncertainties brought by climate change.
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Resilience as the bridge between science and delivery, where research must translate into practical tools for smallholders, agronomists, and field practitioners.
He highlighted the work of UCA’s Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI) in advancing understanding of biodiversity through experiments on crop resilience and seed varieties suited to high mountain environments.
“While our geographies differ, the challenges faced by Central Asia, China and elsewhere are in lockstep, including those related to mountain hydrology, fragile infrastructures, receding biodiversity, complex value chains, and the imperative of linking big science to small farms,” Professor Gerry remarked, also noting the relative absence of genebanks in Central Asia compared to other regions.
The main forum featured high-level sessions on AI and the future of agriculture, nutrition-oriented agrifood systems, climate change and low-carbon transition, and agrifood innovation and investment. Among the highlights was WAFI’s first tree adoption ceremony, held in Beijing’s first district to commit to carbon neutrality. Professor Gerry was among 30 invited guests who adopted a tree, symbolically leaving a small footprint of UCA and Central Asia in the heart of Beijing.
During the visit, Professor Gerry also met with the President of China Agricultural University — a leading institution with 70,000 students — to discuss potential collaboration in research and education. He emphasised that strengthening partnerships with Chinese institutions remains one of UCA’s foremost priorities.
Professor Gerry was among the four speakers invited to deliver remarks at the conference’s closing session, which was attended by thousands in person and followed by tens of millions online.
