From January 16 to 18, the 16th Eco-How-Fun CSA Ecological Agriculture Conference took place on Songjiang Campus of SUES. Under the theme Boundless Ecology, Everlasting Vitality, the conference centered on three core themes: Healthy Farming, Healthy Eating, and Healthy Living. Breaking away from the traditional framework of agricultural conferences, it established a cross-disciplinary dialogue platform connecting production, consumption, academia, and healthcare. Nearly 700 participants, including ecological agriculture practitioners, scholars, medical professionals, consumers, and entrepreneurs from across the country, gathered to explore new pathways for the development of ecological agriculture and sustainable living.
At the opening ceremony, Lou Yongqi, President of SUES and Fellow of Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, emphasized that design can serve as a bond of trust in ecological agriculture, empowering the industry through systemic thinking and cross-sector collaboration. He pointed out that ecological agriculture requires systems thinking to address industrial challenges, rather than focusing solely on isolated improvements. This resonates with SUES’ interdisciplinary 3-Wings concept, which integrates engineering, management, and design, promoting the convergence of multiple disciplines to drive industrial development. SUES is committed to leveraging design as a bridge and grounding its efforts in the fields, working together to fulfill the vision of Boundless Ecology, Everlasting Vitality.
Multiple schools and departments of SUES were deeply involved invarious aspects of the conference, showcasing the university’s strength in cross-disciplinary collaboration. Faculty members from School of Design (in development), School of Management Studies, and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering served as cross-disciplinary observers, engaging deeply in discussions and exchanges at parallel sessions and contributing insights to the development of ecological agriculture from interdisciplinary perspectives. Numerous student volunteers proactively participated in the preparation and on-site organization of the conference, providing comprehensive support with a rigorous and responsible attitude. Their efforts ensured the smooth progress of the event, fully demonstrating the sense of responsibility and exemplary spirit of SUES students.
Distinguished guests offered suggestions for the advancement of ecological agriculture. Zhang Guoqing, Deputy Director of the Information Center of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, emphasized that ecological agriculture is a crucial vehicle for protecting lucid waters and lush mountains, and that digital and intelligent technologies will inject strong momentum into green development, promoting the deep integration of ecological and digital agriculture. Carlos Aldeco, representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in China, provided a global perspective, noting that the cross-cutting themes of this conference offer valuable insights for addressing the high hidden costs in the global agricultural and food systems.
During the keynote forum, renowned scholar on agriculture, rural areas, and farmers Wen Tiejun and Xu Wenbing, founder of the HOPE Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute, engaged in an in-depth dialogue on the concept of Shared Roots of Agriculture and Medicine, which became a focal point of the conference. Other guests, including Wang Defeng, a professor at School of Philosophy of Fudan University, Xu Zhenxing, Vice President of the China Vegetable Association, and Dr. Shi Yan, founder of Eco-How-Fun, also shared profound insights on the value of ecological agriculture and the essence of the CSA model from philosophical and practical industry perspectives.
The conference featured a rich and diverse program, structured around a comprehensive Forum + Practice + Experience agenda. In addition to three keynote forums, the event included 10 parallel forums, eight interactive workshops, one themed film screening, and one special lecture. Professional knowledge was disseminated through interactive games, allowing participants to deepen their understanding of ecological agriculture through hands-on engagement. Notably, this year’s conference upgraded the traditional market into the Eco-How-Fun Lifestyle Pavilion, where immersive and scenario-based displays integrated ecological products into daily life, conveying the concept of sustainable living.
The successful hosting of this conference not only promoted the dissemination and practice of ecological agriculture concepts but also established a diverse and collaborative industry network, infusing new momentum into the evolution of China's ecological agriculture from conceptual advocacy to large-scale, socially-embedded innovation.
