September, 21-28, 2025, Weifang, Shandong, China

Organizer: Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences (PKU-IAAS)

Co-organizers: Weifang Beiqian Technology Service Co., Ltd. & Umeng Biotechnology (Weifang) Co., Ltd.

 

The 2025 Molecular Breeding Academy (MBA) English session was successfully held in Weifang, Shandong Province. Nine participants from five countries — Jordan, Hungary, Malaysia, India and China — completed the seven-day training.

 

Opening ceremony
Presided over by course leader Prof. Yunbi Xu, the opening session featured a welcome address by Prof. Xingping Zhang, Deputy Director of PKU-IAAS, who introduced the Institute and the Provincial Laboratory.

 

24 September – Lab & platform tour
Under the guidance of Profs. Xu and Zhang, participants visited the Institute’s state-of-the-art facilities: cryo-EM platform, crop genetics & germplasm-innovation platform, mass-spectrometry lab, biotechnology platform, phytotron and smart greenhouse. In-depth discussions were held with resident scientists.

 

Field visit to the Institute’s breeding base
Participants inspected plastic-house melon and maize trials and field plots of genetic resources. Prof. Zhang shared practical breeding tips and experimental know-how.

 

26 September – Closing ceremony
Prof. Xu summarised the training activities and thanked the logistics team. Representatives delivered impromptu speeches on their gains and impressions. Prof. Zhang encouraged the participants to apply the knowledge to foster innovation in their home countries and advance seed-industry development.

 

27 September – Industry visits
Morning: Huasheng Seed Group Co., Ltd., Qingzhou
Participants toured breeding greenhouses, intelligent solar-greenhouses, environment-controlled seed stores and the product exhibition hall, and watched the corporate documentary. They were warmly received by Mr. Xingsheng Li and his team.

 

Afternoon: Qingzhou Tiancheng Agricultural Co., Ltd.
Under . Dongxu Wang’s guidance the group visited the demonstration farm and gained deeper insight into “Seed industry takes the lead in rural revitalization”.

 

28 September – Seed-enterprise cluster around Xiaoshan
Shandong Seedviva Technology Co., Ltd. impressed the visitors with its molecular-marker laboratory and modern facilities.

 

UDream Biotechnology (Weifang) Co., Ltd.
Prof. Zhang introduced new crop varieties developed by UDream — varieties that have shown superior yield and market performance in pilot demonstrations.

 

Final stop: Weishui Sunshine Manbo Tropical Rainforest Eco-Science Museum
Rich tropical flora, free-flying birds and an immersive educational atmosphere ended the program on a memorable note.

 

The seven-day MBA English course was highly praised for its rich content and warm hospitality. Participants gained knowledge, broadened vision and forged friendships, leaving with a deeper appreciation of China’s rapid advances. They will serve as ambassadors of molecular breeding, taking the technology home for local application and blossoming impact.