On August 23, the Institute of Plant Protection of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS) held a Field Demonstration and Observation Meeting on Monitoring and Control Technologies for Major Transboundary Crop Pests and Diseases in Southwest China at its Jiangcheng Field Station (Yunnan). High-level officials included Liu Wende, Deputy Director General, Department of International Cooperation, CAAS; Lu Yanhui, Director General, IPPCAAS; Phoukaothong Sykasone, Deputy Director, Plant Protection Center, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), Lao PDR; Wai Wai Mon, Deputy Director, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Myanmar; and Hu Xinghua, Secretary of the Leading Party Group of Jiangcheng Hani and Yi Autonomous County.

Southwest China is among the country’s most affected regions by invasive alien species and serves as the primary corridor through which major transboundary pests and diseases—such as fall armyworm, rice planthoppers, yellow-spined bamboo locust, southern rust of maize, and corn white spot—migrate from the Indochina Peninsula into China’s southern gateway. Strengthening joint prevention-and-control R&D and enhancing cross-border biosafety cooperation in Southwest China are key responsibilities for plant protection scientists, supporting national food security and biosafety.

Participants first visited the IPPCAAS Jiangcheng Field Station to view its R&D outputs for joint prevention and control of transboundary pests and diseases in the southwest, showcasing technologies and products spanning detection and monitoring, biological breeding, biological control, and chemical control. This was followed by on-site surveys of the occurrence and damage of major pests and diseases—including fall armyworm and corn white spot—and assessments of the field demonstration effects of integrated control technologies.

During the event, two thematic academic seminars were convened on “Monitoring and Control Technologies for Transboundary Pests and Diseases” and “Integrated Management of Corn White Spot Diseases”. Experts engaged in in-depth discussions on regional challenges and cooperation mechanisms. International participants noted that, leveraging the China–Lao Joint Laboratory for Plant Biosafety (in preparation), they would pursue joint research and promote advanced monitoring and control technologies and products—developed by IPPCAAS and leading Chinese partners—to Lao PDR, Myanmar, and other Southeast Asian countries, working together to enhance regional plant biosafety capacity and resilience.

Leaders and experts agreed that the event effectively showcased the latest technological advances in cross-border pest and disease monitoring and control for Southwest China. These advances will help local farmers reduce losses from transboundary pests and diseases, support stable grain production and supply, and offer replicable practices for neighboring provinces and countries—raising the overall level of regional prevention and control. The event also strengthened China–Southeast Asia science and technology cooperation on major crop transboundary pests and diseases. By advancing region-wide collaboration with practical outputs, this effort will strengthen early warning, surveillance, and coordinated response in Southwest China, supporting production stability and regional biosafety.

More than 70 participants attended, representing 19 institutions nationwide as well as agriculture departments of Lao PDR and Myanmar. Attendees included Liu Jie, Deputy Director of Pest Monitoring and Forecasting Division, National Agro-Tech Extension and Service Center (NATESC), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA); Chen Aidong, Director General, Institute of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (YAAS); Wu Shiping, Director General, Institute of Plant Protection, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GAAS); Guo Zhongde, Secretary of Leading Party Group of Agricultural Science Research Institute of Pu’er City; Zhang Jie, Deputy Director General of IPPCAAS; Liu Yongqiang, Deputy Director, Division of Technology Transfer of IPPCAAS; and the Expert Group on Plant Protection of CAAS, among others.