Background

To achieve the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs), a challenge is to bring together the billions of small farmers for better adaption and integration into external market. The University of Nottingham Global Challenge Research Fund (UoN-GCRF) awarded a pilot project - Cooperative ecosystem to empower small farmers in China: A pilot project in the poor areas of Sichuan to explore this. The conclusion of the pilot project by the end of December 2020 coincides with the completion of Chinese government campaign on “targeted poverty alleviation” in its less developed region.

This online workshop aims to: 1) facilitate academic exchange along the line of achieving SDGs through rural innovation and cooperative development in marginal areas of the developing world; 2) stimulate trade, investment, entrepreneurship and innovation collaboration through UK-China partnerships among participating research institutes, government agencies, civil societies and AgriFood companies.

Who may be interested?

• Researchers and students who are interested in SDGs, rural innovation and entrepreneurship, cooperative development and poverty alleviation
• Representatives from the government agencies and NGOs from China and the UK who are interested in the UK-China collaboration in rural innovation and sustainability
• AgriFood businesses, rural development consultants, developers, designers and investors which are interested in tapping into UK-China collaboration to stimulate local and international markets.

Draft Agenda

Day One: Project Finding, Invited Speeches and Academic Exchange

• GCRF team: research findings from GCRF project
• Transformation of small farmers for modern agriculture in China
• Partnership for value chain development and poverty alleviation in Southwest China
• Academia-led ecosystem for community development in a minority region
• NGO-led ecosystem for rural sustainability via e-commerce training
• Academic reflection and discussion

Day Two: Social & Economic Impact and UK-China Collaboration

Opening Ceremony and VIPs addressing

Showcases of Social and Economic Impact and Collaboration Opportunities

• Ingenuity Lab competition for SDGs and rural entrepreneurship
• UK-China cooperation for potato commercialisation and export
• Impact of the GCRF project on new professionalism development among SAU students
• China’s engagement for agricultural technology innovation in Africa
• Women entrepreneurship and community empowerment for original tea export
• International participation in rural tourism in Sichuan

Action Plan for Collaboration

• Funding opportunities and joint applications (GCRF, SIN, UKRI, others)
• UK-China collaboration in agricultural commercialisation and trade
• Joint international workshops, seminars or events in 2021

Participation and Contacts

This workshop will be delivered in English through live MS Teams meetings. Please register your interest by 30 November 2020 to receive an invite via email to attend the workshop.

Any query for event programme or academic contribution, please contact Dr. Bin Wu, PI of GCRF project (bin.wu@nottingham.ac.uk).

For event registration or logistics matter, contact Ms Wei Ye, RA of GCRF project (wei.ye2@nottingham.ac.uk )