From January 2 to 5, 2025, the Chinese Cassava Agri-Technology System's 2024 Annual Work Summary and Evaluation Meeting was held in Danzhou, Hainan. The event was hosted by the Institute of Tropical Crop Genetic Resources, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, with the participation of leaders from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Hainan Province, and other relevant authorities, who delivered key speeches. Researchers Zhang Peng and Ma Qiuxiang from our center attended the meeting.

The meeting recognized the achievements of the cassava system and outlined key work priorities: focusing on industry pain points to improve effectiveness, strengthening the integration of technology across the entire industry chain, promoting the application of technological results, fostering collaborative innovation, and regulating management to invigorate the system. Vice President Fang Jixian emphasized that the agricultural technology system is a crucial support for agricultural development, requiring continuous support and innovation. Researcher Li Kaimian stated that technological innovation is key to driving the high-quality development of the cassava industry.

During the meeting, experts and station leaders reported on their work in 2024 and clarified their responsibilities. The meeting successfully completed the work summary and evaluation tasks. In the future, the cassava industry technology system will continue to drive technological innovation, enhance industry competitiveness, and contribute to the sustainable development of the cassava industry. The meeting also featured the award ceremony for the "I Speak for the System" science popularization competition, where our center's entry, “The King of Starch Meets Biotechnology: Cassava's Magnificent Transformation” (produced by Jiang Tong and Li Ruyue), won the Grand Prize, injecting new elements into the cassava system's science communication efforts.