Connecting the World Through Mushrooms: A Bridge of Intelligence in Zibo

The 2025 International Shiitake Mushroom Supply Chain Conference was held in Zibo on November 8th. The conference, themed "Connecting the World Through Mushrooms," focused on two key themes: technological innovation and supply chain collaboration, carrying profound significance.

At the event, a host of industry experts and scholars, including Li Yu, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, President of the International Society for Medicinal Fungi, and Director of the Academic Committee of Jilin Agricultural University; Xu Xiaohu, Vice President of the China Chamber of Commerce for Foodstuffs and Native Produce; Tan Qi, President of the World Society for Edible Fungi Biology and Products, President of the Shiitake Mushroom Branch of the Mycological Society of China, and Second-Level Researcher at the Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences; and Huang Chenyang, Chief Scientist of the National Edible Fungi Industry Technology System and Researcher at the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, gathered to jointly envision the global shiitake mushroom industry.

This was not the first time the conference had been held in Zibo. Back in June 2023, the first International Shiitake Mushroom Industry Innovation Expo was also held in Zibo.

Li Yu explained that the decision to choose Zibo again was based on profound strategic considerations. Zibo is not only a national benchmark for the transformation of old industrial cities, but also a crucial hub for Chinese shiitake mushrooms to enter the global market. The "domestic mycelium cultivation, overseas mushroom production, and local market launch of fresh mushrooms" model explored by the local leading enterprise, Qihe Biotechnology, has become a successful example of the globalization of the edible fungi industry. Its valuable experience in driving industrial chain upgrades through technological innovation and enhancing supply chain resilience through globalization not only provides a replicable and scalable practical path for agricultural modernization nationwide, but also contributes vibrant Chinese wisdom to the global edible mushroom industry.

"We must be clearly aware that although my country is a major producer, consumer, and exporter of shiitake mushrooms, there is still a gap between our current state and the goal of becoming an 'industrial powerhouse.' For example, our ability to independently control mushroom strains urgently needs improvement, optimizing production capacity structure and enhancing brand value are arduous tasks, and the resilience of the supply chain and the vitality of the consumer market still need continuous strengthening," Li Yu explained. "Faced with the dual opportunities and challenges of consumption upgrading and the reshaping of the global landscape, our entire industry not only needs to anchor itself to the core concept of 'three-product circulation' and strengthen seed industry innovation, resource protection, and standardization, but also needs leading enterprises to solve pain points through practical work and lead upgrades through innovation."

As one of the organizers, Su Sitong, a national model worker and chairman of Shandong Qihe Biotechnology Co., Ltd., stated in his address that the global shiitake mushroom industry is currently at a new crossroads, undergoing a critical period of industrial upgrading, value reshaping, and resource integration, facing a series of opportunities and challenges. How to "gather global strength, promote collaborative innovation between industry, academia, and research, and jointly build a global industrial ecosystem" is not only the theme of this conference but also a crucial question that all practitioners must answer together.

"Therefore, this conference has carefully planned special sessions on brand culture, supply chain, and deep processing, hoping to discuss with our peers how to achieve a comprehensive value upgrade for shiitake mushrooms, from greenhouse to table, and from product to brand," Su Sitong explained.

As the host, Liu Pengfei, Deputy District Head of Zichuan District, welcomed the scholars and guests attending the conference. He introduced that in recent years, Zichuan District has prioritized agricultural and rural development, focusing on creating a "one village, one project" development pattern led by five major industries: edible fungi, selenium-rich agricultural products, traditional Chinese medicine, pig farming, and cut flowers. The district now boasts 31 leading enterprises at the municipal level or above, and has created 58 new "Three Products and One Standard" certified agricultural products and 35 well-known brands at the municipal level or above. By leveraging the leading role of Qihe Biotechnology, it has helped over 200 villages and more than 60,000 farmers increase their income and achieve prosperity. The shiitake mushroom industry has become a veritable industry that enriches the people, strengthens the district, and is a pillar industry, exploring pathways, providing models, and adding luster to the revitalization of rural industries in Zichuan District.

"We will take this conference as an opportunity to increase the cultivation of the shiitake mushroom industry, enhance the deep processing capabilities of agricultural products, expand into vast domestic and international markets, and create more well-known brands. At the same time, we hope that experts and professors will provide more guidance and suggestions for the development of the Zichuan shiitake mushroom industry," Liu Pengfei said.