International Symposium on Agricultural Ecology and Sustainable Design Engineering (AESDE 2026) was successfully held on Guangzhou International Bio Island.

Group Photo

From September 11 to 13, 2026, the International Symposium on Agricultural Ecology and Sustainable Design Engineering (AESDE 2026) was successfully held on Guangzhou International Bio Island. Approved by the Foreign Affairs Commission Office of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, the conference was guided by the World Eco-Design Organization (UN Special Consultative Status NGO, WEDO), hosted by Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, organized by the Hexiangning College of Art and Design and the School of Ecological Design Industry, and co-organized by Guangdong Jiangdong Agricultural, Cultural and Tourism Technology Institute. Experts and scholars from China and abroad gathered in Guangzhou to explore new pathways for agricultural ecological transformation and sustainable design, while building international consensus for a greener and more sustainable future.

Prof. Liao Ming, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee and President of Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, delivered the opening address. He noted that, amid the global transition toward greener agriculture and the rapid advancement of digital technologies, disciplinary boundaries must be broken down. Through technological innovation and international collaboration, artificial intelligence should be harnessed to empower modern agriculture and rural revitalization, contributing to the shared goal of global agricultural sustainability.

Opening Ceremony

Vice Dean Prof. Xiong Qiang presented a report on the conference paper review process. A total of 268 submissions were received from around the world, of which 73 papers were accepted following a rigorous peer-review process. During the opening ceremony, 10 universities received Outstanding Organization Awards, while 10 papers were recognized as Outstanding Papers, honoring the research efforts and academic contributions of scholars worldwide.

The conference also launched two major academic initiatives. The first was the “100 Academic Advancement Program,” designed to create stronger connections among talent development, research and innovation, and international academic exchange. The second was the official establishment of the Education Committee of WEDO, together with the launch of two new academic publications, Green Design Engineering and Education Engineering. Appointment certificates were presented to committee members and editors-in-chief, marking the formation of an interdisciplinary, diverse, and internationally oriented academic think tank.

During the keynote session, leading experts from several countries shared perspectives at the intersection of design, technology, education, culture, and sustainability. Associate Prof. Hu Jun of Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands discussed how ubiquitous technologies can contribute to human health and well-being through design. Prof. He Xiaoyou, Director of the Art Committee of WEDO and a professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, reflected on how design education can preserve its core values while embracing innovation in the age of artificial intelligence. Prof. Yao Yousheng of Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering explored pathways for revitalizing and translating traditional culture into contemporary design practices. Prof. Ying Fangtian, Director-General of WEDO and a professor at Zhejiang University, advocated a systemic eco-design approach that embeds green values throughout the entire process of industrial development.

Keynote Speeches

In the afternoon, the main forum focused on the theme “Artificial Intelligence Empowering Interdisciplinary Research in Agricultural Ecology and Sustainable Design Engineering.” Ten experts from China and abroad shared practical insights on topics including digital intelligence and innovation, smart agriculture, industrial innovation, and rural empowerment. Through a combination of paper poster sessions and online parallel forums, the conference provided a broad platform for academic exchange, interdisciplinary dialogue, and the sharing of new ideas.

Presentation Sessions

On September 12, the conference hosted an Academic Salon to review the achievements of AESDE 2026, release the development plan of the WEDO Education Committee, and further strengthen an interdisciplinary academic community. A seminar was also held to mark the launch of the new book World Design Contributor — Prof. Zhang Fuchang. Participants reflected on Prof. Zhang’s pioneering journey in design education and discussed new approaches to innovation and international communication in design education in the new era.

Academic Salon

Experts attending the conference reached a strong consensus that the sustainable development of agricultural ecosystems cannot be achieved through a single technology or discipline alone. Meaningful solutions can only emerge by grounding research in real-world agricultural production and ecological governance scenarios, while building a shared language and effective mechanisms for interdisciplinary collaboration. The conference established an open platform for international cooperation and injected fresh academic momentum into the development of green agriculture and rural revitalization in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Book Signing Event

WEDO looks forward to working with partners from all sectors to integrate eco-design principles into agricultural development, rural development, and talent cultivation, jointly advancing the global ecological transformation of agriculture and sustainable design practices, deepening international cooperation, and building a greener and more sustainable future.

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