On Dec 5, the first Tremella Industry Development Conference was held at the Edible Mushroom Culture Expo Center in Gutian, China. The conference featured three sub-forums, including the "Innovation and Sustainable Solutions in Enhancing Food Security and Rural Livelihood " forum, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with support from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Over 270 participants attended, including government officials, representatives from international organizations, experts, scholars, and industry professionals. The forum aimed to promote policy development and industry practices through knowledge and experience exchange, identify opportunities for innovation and technological advancement in rural industries, and encourage the adoption of sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

Invited by the UNDP, Huang Chenyang, Deputy Chief Scientist of the China Agriculture Research System - Edible Mushroom and Chief Scientist of the Edible Mushroom Genetic Breeding and Cultivation Team at the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, participated in the forum and delivered a keynote speech titled "Green Technology and Innovation in the Edible Mushroom Industry to Promote Rural Livelihoods". Huang's presentation covered six key areas: the contributions of edible mushrooms to humanity and agriculture, the achievements of China's edible mushroom development, the secrets to the high-quality development of China's edible mushroom industry, progress in green technology innovation, and the proposal to strengthen the global edible mushroom sector.

Huang highlighted that edible mushrooms meet human demands for taste, nutrition, and health, significantly contributing to increasing farmer employment and income, and enhancing rural construction. China leads globally in total mushroom production, diversity of cultivated species, production efficiency, and industrial-scale production. This leadership is attributed to comprehensive efforts, including supportive government policies, strong technological innovation, practical efforts by enterprises, and the hard work of mushroom farmers. China's mushroom industry has undergone iterative upgrades in production models, facility development, full mechanization, ecological substrate use, and scientific and precise cultivation, achieving significant technological advancements and reaching international leading levels.

Huang also proposed the establishment of an International Edible Mushroom Day by the United Nations to raise awareness and appreciation for edible mushrooms. This initiative received positive responses from the attendees, emphasizing the health and strength benefits of mushrooms and the importance of further developing the mushroom industry.