Between 11 and 19 June 2025, Prof. Luisella Roberta Celi (University of Turin) completed an intense, week-long mission across five leading Chinese research centres and an organic demonstration farm to accelerate EU–China cooperation under the ECONUTRI project.
Altogether, the mission deepened scientific ties, secured new collaborative field sites, engaged farmers directly in circular-agriculture practices, and set a clear path for joint research on nutrient-loss reduction, greenhouse-gas mitigation and biowaste valorisation across Europe and China. Below is a summary of the extensive travels and outcomes Prof Celi accomplished.
| Date | Institution / Location | Key Activities & Topics | Outcomes & Added Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 June | College of Resources & Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University (CAU) (Beijing) | • Lab presentations on compost-based suppression of cucumber Fusarium wilt (immobilised microbes, biochar–microbe synergy, nano-biocontrol) • In-depth discussion on biochar–microbe interactions, C/N cycling, enzyme indicators |
• Identified new experimental angles for disease-suppressive composts and rhizosphere research |
| 13–14 June | Institute of Agricultural Resources & Environment, Hebei Academy of Agriculture & Forestry Sciences (HAAFS) (Shijiazhuang) | • Lecture on nutrient cycling in rice–soil–microbiome systems • Technical exchange on hydrothermal carbonisation for livestock wastewater • Field visit to protected-vegetable long-term trials |
• Joint roadmap on soil C/N cycling under organic substitution in greenhouses; guidance for ECONUTRI WP tasks |
| 15 June | Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences | • Tour of decade-long low-carbon paddy trials (GHG monitoring, straw & water regimes) • Seminar on Italian water-management mitigation techniques |
• Laid groundwork for joint research on GHG mitigation, non-point-source pollution and eutrophication control in rice systems |
| 17 June | Heilongjiang Institute of Black Soil Conservation & Utilisation (Harbin) | • Seminar on fermented ag-waste fertilisers, nitrogen cycling and organic substitution in maize & greenhouse rotations • Visit to national black-soil demonstration zone |
• Agreed on collaborative trials for N/P-loss reduction in black soils; integration of ECONUTRI tech packages into national monitoring sites |
| 18 June | Share Harvest Organic Farm (Beijing) – Soil-Health Workshop | • Keynote: “Organic Vegetable Farming: Innovative & Environment-Friendly Management Practices” (One-Health lens, C-sequestration, biostimulants, microplastic risks) • Hands-on sessions with farmers on DSS-based nutrient management and straw-compost recycling |
• Accelerated transfer of ECONUTRI circular-agriculture know-how to Chinese organic-farming community; farm-level pilots agreed |
| 19 June | China Agricultural University (Beijing) – College of Resources & Environmental Sciences | • Talk on circular concepts for biowaste management & nutrient recovery (struvite, EU regulations) • Planning of CAU–UNITO student co-training and next-phase task allocation |
• Preliminary MoU on joint PhD exchanges; refined task schedule for upcoming ECONUTRI deliverables |
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