Chongqing - The 6th World's Fair of Fuling Zhacai Industry of Chongqing, China, and the 2024 World Zhacai Industry Innovation Conference will convene in Fuling District from January 25 to 28, 2024. Expecting over 300 domestic and international attendees, the conference aims to explore the future of the Zhacai industry, according to a press conference on Friday.

Zhacai, also known as the Sichuan preserved vegetable or Sichuan mustard tuber, is a pickled mustard plant native to Sichuan, China. 

In its fifth consecutive year, this edition will showcase ten key activities, including the inauguration of the Fuling Zhacai historical memory pavilion. The event emphasizes communication and spotlights global and regional collaboration within the Zhacai industry.

Key figures in the industry, including top research experts and well-known scholars, will discuss innovative developments. The conference will also delve into international standards for Zhacai production and showcase exhibitions from famous enterprises within the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle and other areas.

The Fuling Zhacai. (Photo/ Fuling District)

Besides, the event will emphasize the unique regional characteristics of Zhacai and encourage universal participation. Highlights include Fuling Zhacai hot pot competitions and a short video contest to showcase Fuling Zhacai's cultural significance.

This year's conference will debut China's first Zhacai genetic variation map, unveil industry innovations, and showcase the "Zhacai Industry Brain" initiative, highlighting the economic and social value of the Zhacai industry's big data for its digital transformation.

The intelligent production line of Chongqing Fuling Zhacai Group Co., Ltd. (Photo/ Fuling District)

Han Yizheng, chief agronomist from the Chongqing Municipal Agriculture and Rural Committee, shared that in 2023, Fuling District saw substantial growth in its Zhacai industry, with a total output value of 14.1 billion yuan (USD 2 billion). 

He emphasized Chongqing's dedication to domestically and globally promoting Fuling Zhacai, a geographically indicated (GI) product. The focus includes aiding Zhacai enterprises in exhibition participation, certifications, intellectual property rights, branding, marketing, and establishing overseas marketing centers to streamline export channels.

Fuling District has been developing as a national foreign trade transformation base for Zhacai. Currently, the district hosts 46 Zhacai-related enterprises, including 13 exporters.

Furthermore, Fuling District initiated an "intelligent export platform" for Zhacai to modernize and streamline export processes, optimize business procedures, support AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) certification, and cut costs for exporters. The district provides training in export operations and certifications such as HACCP, ISO9000, U.S. FDA, and Middle East Halal to boost export competitiveness.

In 2023, Fuling exported 18,000 tons of Zhacai, generating 167 million yuan—a growth of 8.4% and 11.3% over the previous year, respectively—expanding its sales network to over 80 countries and regions.