On April 24th, the ceremony for the found of “Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance for the Deep Processing of Edible Fungus in Henan Province” and the start of Major Welfare Project of Henan Province named “The Key Technology and Industrial Demonstration for the Efficient Extraction and Functional Foods Creation based on the Functional Compounds of Edible Fungus” were held in Zhongzhou International Hotel, Kaifeng.

During the conference, honored attendees included Academician Bin Cong (Chinese Academy of Engineering, Member of the 13nd Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, deputy chief member of Constitution and Law Commission, Vice Chairman of the 14th Central Committee of Jiusan Society and Dean of College of Forensic Medicine Hebei Medical University), Zhihua Xu (Deputy chief of Rural Science and Technology Division, The Science and Technology Department of Henan Province), many leaders and experts from many famous institutes (such as Institute of Microbiology in Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Food Science and Technology CAAS, Fujian Academy of Agricultural sciences, Hebei Food Inspection and Research Institute, etc.) as well as some well-known scholars from prestigious universities (such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, China Agricultural University, Beijing Technology and Business University, Jilin Agricultural University, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, etc.). Besides, many delegates from 21 member units of the Alliance including Henan University, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Henan Academy of Sciences, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanyang Normal University, Henan Shijixiang Edible Fungus Development Co., Henan Longfeng Industrial Ltd. etc. Xuelu Wang, vice President of HENU, presented in the conference. And the conference was presided over by Gang Liang, Secretary of the Party committee of School of Pharmacy, HENU.

Xuelu Wang, on behalf of HENU, was invited to address in the conference. He welcomed the honored guests in this conference and showed gratitude to the leaders, experts, scholars etc., who supported to the construction and development of HENU. Then, He introduced the development of HENU to the conferee and wished all the members of the Alliance and the Major Welfare Project could hold together with National R＆D center for Edible fungus processing, in order to pioneer one way for the Edible fungus industry of Henan Province in the field of health. Meanwhile, he expressed congratulations to the found of the Alliance and start of Major Welfare Project.

Zhihua Xu, the deputy chief of Rural Science and Technology Division, the Science and Technology Department of Henan Province was also invited to address in the conference, and he spoke highly of the deep processing technologies of edible fungus and the establishment of local deep processing system for the edible fungus in Henan Province. Also, on behalf of the Science and Technology Department of Henan Province, he expressed concern and support on the Alliance and Major Welfare project.

Wenyi Kang, dean of National R&D Center for Edible Fungus Processing, introduced the general information about the Alliance and Major Welfare Project for the conference.

The Alliance integrates the “Edible fungus industry” and “Health care industry” together, and links the enterprises, colleges, institutes and civil society in the related fields of edible fungus like breeding, planting, processing, production of functional foods and medicines. Till now, the Alliance has covered all the industries about deep processing on edible fungus, not only including the germplasm source, production equipment, planting base, efficient fermentation technologies, processing, industrial demonstration and identification of functional components, but including the research, development and application of functional foods, cosmetics and medicine, as well as the formulation of accompanying technical standards, quality control, etc. This Alliance would provide one platform for the improvement the economic, social and environmental benefits from edible fungus industry, and promotion of related industrial development.

The Major Welfare Project is applied and approved jointly by 9 institutes headed by Henan University. This project focuses on the present situation and critical problems, covering 5 aspects, which are the invention of functional foods; efficient extraction technologies of bioactive compounds and corresponding quality control technologies; research on the efficacy and working mechanism of the bioactive compounds; efficient fermentation technologies for the predominant fungus; enrichment of the bioactive compounds and accompanying industrial demonstration. This project aims to establish one clear and integrate industrial chain along from foundational research to development and demonstration of edible fungus deep processing, enhance the high-quality development of the agriculture in Henan Province and make contribution to build Henan a modernization advanced agricultural province.

Xuelu Wang and Zhihua Xu unveiled the plaque together for the “Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance for the Deep Processing of Edible Fungus in Henan Province” among the warm applause of all attending people.

After the unveiling ceremony, all the members of experts committee of the Alliance and delegates of 21 Alliance member units attended the 1st member congress and 2nd conference of 1st expert committee. During the congress, the Secretariat staff listened to the suggestions from all the attendees and organized the discussion about the construction and working plan of the Alliance in 2021.

The found of the Alliance marked the rise of the edible fungus deep processing industry of Henan Province, which could significantly enhance the development of edible fungus industry of Henan Province.

(From: National R&D Center for Edible Fungus Processing Technology)