IFST Holds the 2026 Summer Open Day for Outstanding Undergraduate Students. On July 28, IFST successfully held its 2026 Summer Open Day for Outstanding Undergraduate Students. The event attracted 41 outstanding students from 25 universities across China, including China Agricultural University, Northwest A&F University, Beijing Forestry University and Northeast Agricultural University. Through academic exchanges, laboratory tours, face-to-face meetings with supervisors and other sessions, the students gained first-hand insights into the research priorities and innovation ecosystem of IFST. Prof. Fan Bei, on behalf of IFST, extended a warm welcome to the visiting students. She stated that as a national agricultural research institution, IFST has always been rooted in the work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers. It continuously carries out research in the fields of agricultural product processing, quality and safety, and food nutrition. She expressed the hope that this Open Day could pass on the research spirit of basing work on industry and serving people’s livelihoods to young students.

Blue Tuesday Lecture: An Analysis of the Future Development Path of the Dairy Industry. Academic lecture series “Blue Tuesday”,co-hosted by the Innovation Team of Dairy Processing and Quality Control and the Innovation Team of Food Bio-manufacturing was held on August 5. Professor Kasper Hettinga from Wageningen University in the Netherlands was invited to deliver a presentation entitled An Analysis of the Future Development Path of the Dairy Industry. The report focused on functional activity research of milk, process regulation in dairy manufacturing, and comparative analysis between animal-based dairy products and plant-based alternatives. More than 40 researchers and postgraduate students attended the lecture.

IFST Signs Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Dalian Polytechnic University. On August 9, Qian Wanqiang, Director of Administrative Office of CAAS, and Liu Rongrong, Director General of IFST-CAAS led a delegation to Dalian Polytechnic University for exchange and discussion, aiming to advance in-depth collaborative innovation between both sides in the field of food science and technology. During the meeting, the two parties reached consensus on jointly improving the scientific and technological innovation system, undertaking joint research on major scientific projects, co-building high-level science and technology platforms, and deepening personnel exchange and joint postgraduate training. Liu Rongrong and Academician Zhu Beiwei signed the strategic cooperation agreement on behalf of their respective institutions.

Academician Chen Jian from Jiangnan University Delivers Special Report at the IFST. On August 27, Professor Chen Jian, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Former President of Jiangnan University, was invited to IFST to give a special report. Entitled Biomanufacturing and Team Building, his presentation systematically illustrated the development status of cutting-edge technologies including synthetic biology, construction of cell factories and precision fermentation. With case studies such as new-quality proteins, he thoroughly analyzed the application prospects of biomanufacturing in the future food industry and examined the ten major pain points of China’s biomanufacturing industry.

IFST Deepens Cooperation with Taizhou City and Taixing City. On September 9, Chen Ning, Director of Taizhou Industrial Technology Research Institute, Ji Huacheng, Director of Taixing Modern Agricultural Industrial Park, and Ju Jing, Deputy Director of the Park, visited the IFST for exchange. The parties reviewed achievements from previous cooperation, reached new consensus on strengthening personnel exchange and postgraduate training, and signed a cooperation agreement. Prof. Fan Bei, Deputy Director General of IFST, attended the meeting.

IFST and New R&D Institutions Showcase Products at the 4th Weifang International Food and Agricultural Products Expo. From September 15 to 17, the 4th Weifang International Food and Agricultural Products Expo was held in Weifang. More than 100 products in 8 categories, developed and commercialized jointly by the Institute, Weifang Research Institute, Cangzhou Research Institute, CAAS Digital Research Institute and other R&D institutions, were exhibited and received wide acclaim. Liu Rongrong, Director General of IFST and Deng Hongliang, Deputy Director General of IFST, attended the event.

Weifang Institute Holds Exchange Meeting on High-Quality Development of Agri-Food Industry Empowered by S&T Innovation. On September 16, Exchange Meeting on High-Quality Development of Agri-Food Industry Empowered by S&T Innovation was hosted by Weifang Institute in Weifang. Centering on topics including the transformation and application of processing technologies for characteristic fruits and vegetables, as well as the interpretation and compliant implementation of new food labelling regulations, the event built a platform for precise matching between scientific and technological achievements and regional industrial demands.

IFST Holds 2026 New Staff Training and Academic Exchange for Young Researchers. From September 17 to 18, the IFST organized the 2026 New Staff Training and Academic Exchange for Young Researchers. Liu Rongrong delivered a report entitled The Processing Sector Holds Boundless Potential; the Future Is Yours to Define. Heads of administrative departments gave lectures covering the history, administrative management, human resources and talent development, achievement transformation, platform development, confidentiality and informatization, work safety and logistics support, Party building and spiritual civilization. Wang Haifeng presided over the event.

Two Meat Product Industry Standards Led by the IFST Released. Recently, two agricultural industry standards, Technical Specification for Green Processing of Smoked, Roasted and Grilled Meat Products (NY/T 5639-2026) and Determination of Volatile Flavor Compounds in Meat and Meat Products — Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method (NY/T 5643-2026), were officially released by Announcement No. 1056 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The standards were developed by the IFST in collaboration with more than ten entities including Xiamen Yinxiang Group Co., Ltd., Henan Shuanghui Investment & Development Co., Ltd., Sichuan Anjoy Foods Co., Ltd., and Ludong University. They will come into force on February 1, 2027.