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Food security prime national priority
By Zhao Huanxin (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-05-11 22:49 Plant protection should contribute to sustainable
and environmentally sound agricultural production processes that effectively
control pests and diseases, Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu said Tuesday in Beijing.
Speaking at the opening of a week-long 15th International Plant Protection
Congress, Hui said that plant protection and control of agricultural biological
disasters are important to world food security and to harmony between humans and
nature.
While crop disasters threaten to inhibit steady and sustained agricultural
development, their control should be conducted without harming the environment
and natural resources, Hui told the meeting, which attracted more than 2,000
delegates from some 50 countries and regions.
China has attributed its increased grain production partly to efforts in
plant protection, such as disseminating advanced, integrated pest and disease
control technologies, Hui said.
Despite growing efforts in pest management, China suffered losses of at least
16 million tons of grain to various pestilence and diseases last year, according
to a statement issued at the meeting.
"China will continue to strengthen plant protection and actively participate
in international co-operation in this regard," Hui said.
Hans Herren, president of the International Association of Plant Protection
Sciences (IAPPS), said plant health management issues are at top of food
security agenda for the new millennium.
"The world will have to double its food, feed and fibre production in the
next 25 years. In order to do this in a sustainable and efficient manner, this
will mean primarily less pest-induced losses," he said.
Sponsored by IAPPS and organized by the China Society of Plant Protection,
the quadrennial International Plant Protection Congress is the first great
gathering for plant protection in the 21st century.
During the week-long gathering, scientists are expected to debate a host of
hot issues, including food safety and prevention of new species of
pests,according to the meeting sources.
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