The Fourth World Shiology Forum kicked off in Haikou, the capital of China’s southern island province of Hainan, on October 10. Over 300 government officials, scholars, and culinary workers from 43 countries around the globe gathered together to discuss systematic governance, sustainable development, and other food-related issues aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

At the opening ceremony, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres proposed in a congratulatory note that the global food system should be made more sustainable, fair, and resilient, using scientific technologies to improve methods of obtaining healthy foods while reducing water use and carbon footprints.

José Graziano da Silva, former Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organizations and President of the Fome Zero (Zero Hunger Program) in Brazil, recognized the efforts the forum has made in gathering solutions to global food issues to realize the United Nations SDGs.

According to Wu Hongbo, forum president and former Deputy Director-General of the United Nations, “Shiology” is a compound word created by Chinese scholars from the Chinese character “食 (shi)”, which can be used as both a noun that means “food” and a verb that means to “eat”. A brand new discipline in China and internationally, “Shiology” is an inclusive theoretical system focusing on the relationship between man and nature in the human diet which aims to help solve food-related problems.

Inaugurated in Beijing in 2017, the forum is a high-end platform for international dialogue on food issues, and has also been held in Japan and Turkey over the past few years.

According to Director-general of the World Shiology Forum Liu Guangwei, Hainan was selected to host this year’s forum thanks to the island province’s geographical advantages and excellent resources including the beautiful landscapes, clean water, and fresh air.

These factors will enable Hainan to make breakthroughs in average life spans and international cooperation, allowing it to become a demonstration area for achieving the United Nations SDGs and systematically solving food issues. A "Hainan Island Initiative" will be released during the forum to propel the implementation of the SDGs.

During the three-day forum, the island province will hold events featuring all kinds of innovative Hainan foods and promote new services in Hainan’s restaurants and food industry.

Popular Hainan dishes on display at the forum. (Photo: Wu Xingcai / Hinews)