On August 6th, the Guizhou Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in collaboration with Guizhou University (GZU), hosted the 2023 Provincial Seminar on Green Control Methods for Tea Garden Pests and Diseases in Ziyun Autonomous County, Anshun City. Leaders present at the event included Academician Song Bao'an, President of Guizhou University, and Hu Jicheng, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

During the seminar, Academician Song Bao'an presented a report titled "Combatting Tea Tree Diseases and Pests for Enhanced Tea Leaf Quality and Safety." His presentation delved into the primary categories and preventive measures of tea garden diseases and pests prevalent in China. He pointed out the potential risks associated with chemical pesticides while elucidating the merits of environmentally-friendly control methodologies, emphasizing control modes, systems, principles, and pivotal techniques such as "insect-based pest control, plant-based weed management, and immune induction strategies." He urged the attendees to explore the green control approach for tea diseases as the hallmark of Guizhou.

In his address, Hu Jicheng emphasized that the pristine quality of Guizhou’s “clean tea”, organic and pesticide-free, is a defining brand characteristic, and green control stands as the bedrock of this distinction. It is a significant way for enhancing the international competitiveness of Guizhou tea. The team led by Academician Song Bao'an from GZU, has worked in various regions in Guizhou and provided vital support in establishing Guizhou's reputation for producing quality tea. He hoped that participants would bridge theory and practice to become experts in their field, thus propelling the prosperity of Guizhou's tea industry.

Jin Linhong, a professor from the Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides & Agricultural Engineering at GZU, and Tan Xiaofeng, an expert from the Provincial Plant Protection and Plant Inspection Station, delivered enlightening lectures on "Integrating Sustainable Control Methods for Tea Garden Pests and Diseases" and "Promoting Healthy Soil Management in Tea Gardens" respectively. Furthermore, they led participants on an engaging field visit and encouraged an exchange of ideas at the tea garden of Tianhong Tea Industry Co., Ltd., located in Ziyun Autonomous County, providing firsthand insight into the practical application and effectiveness of sustainable control methods.

This seminar, a sub-event of the inaugural Guizhou Science and Technology Festival, seeks to reinforce the dissemination of sustainable control methods for tea garden pests and diseases across the province. Its objectives include elevating the standards of sustainable control technologies in tea gardens, enhancing tea garden quality and efficiency, and contributing to the broader agenda of rural revitalization. The organizing committee comprises the Tea Expert Group of the Guizhou Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides & Agricultural Engineering at GZU, and the Tea Expert Group of the Anshun City Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Trainees of this seminar included technical leaders from the agriculture and rural affairs bureaus, in addition to key tea industry stakeholders, in Anshun City, Qiannan Prefecture, and Qiandongnan Prefecture.

Editor：Pang Aizhong

Chief Editor:  Li Xufeng

Senior Editor:  Yan Nan

Translator: Xiao Qi