In January 2026, European partners of the ECONUTRI project carried out a scientific mission to China, further reinforcing EU–China cooperation on sustainable nutrient management and agro-environmental innovation.
The delegation from Università degli Studi di Torino (UNITO) — Prof. Luisella Celi (Vice Rector for Research), Prof. Francesca Cardinale, Prof. Daniel Said Pullicino, Prof. Elio Dinuccio and Dr. Alice Boarino — together with Prof. Jian Liu and Dr. Dmitry Kechasov from Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) and Dr. Michał Oskiera from Instytut Ogrodnictwa – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy (INHORT), took part in a series of workshops and the Sino–EU Conference hosted by Chinese partners.
Workshops Strengthening Scientific Exchange
Between 23–27 January, the European delegation contributed to workshops held in Zhengzhou, Beijing hosted by CAU and Shijiazhuang, hosted by HAAFS.
The meetings gathered researchers, faculty members, students, government representatives and industry stakeholders active in the SIno-European cooperation framework. Discussions focused on:
- Nutrient recovery from biowaste and sustainable biomass upcycling
- Integrated manure valorisation and struvite precipitation technologies
- Biostimulant-driven crop resilience
- Precision water–fertiliser management
- Greenhouse gas mitigation and emission reduction strategies
Sino–EU Conference on Agricultural Nutrient Management
From 25–28 January 2026, the delegation participated in the Sino–EU Conference on Agricultural Nutrient Management Based on Nature-Solutions, organised by HAAFS, CAU and Stanley Agriculture Group in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province.
The conference programme included expert presentations, exhibitions of technological achievements, project discussions and on-site demonstrations. During the opening session, Qiang Zhang, Vice President of HAAFS, highlighted the importance of international cooperation for sustainable agricultural development, while Prof. Qing Chen (CAU) underlined the strategic role of ECONUTRI in advancing nitrogen and phosphorus management through nature-based approaches.
A key milestone of the mission was the inauguration (26 January 2026) of the China–Europe Joint Research Centre for Soil Health and Precision Water–Nutrient Management of Crops, a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening long-term institutional cooperation and scientific exchange between Europe and China. The virtual joint center was officially opened in the presence of senior HAAFS representatives, including its Vice President. The programme of the Conference can be found here.
Strengthening Long-Term Cooperation
This mission provided a valuable opportunity to deepen existing collaborations and open new pathways for joint research and innovation. Meetings with government authorities, corporate representatives, agricultural practitioners, researchers and students reinforced ECONUTRI’s role as a bridge between European and Chinese scientific communities.
The strengthened partnership between European institutions and their Chinese counterparts sets a solid foundation for future collaborative activities, ensuring that ECONUTRI remains at the forefront of nutrient-smart, environmentally responsible and nature-based agricultural solutions.
