The Future Agriculture Leaders Delegation to China, organized by the U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) successfully completed a week-long learning trip to China from June 1-8.
This unique learning trip brings together student leaders from 15 universities from 15 states across the United States—many from the American Heartland—to study and discuss crucial issues and to promote friendship and build trust between the next generation of agricultural leaders in the U.S. and China.
Throughout the trip, they not only had the opportunity to engage with agricultural experts and explore how global markets can help American agriculture thrive but also engaged in cultural experiences to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture.
In Zhengzhou, Henan Province, also known as the breadbasket of China, the group visited an agriculture extension site, participated in an aqua culture training session, and visited major producers and businesses headquartered in Zhengzhou. Cultural experiences included a guided visit to the historic Shaolin Temple with a private demonstration of kungfu by monks, attending the Shaolin Zen Music Ritual, as well as a Yu Opera performance.
The group began its visit in Zhengzhou with a stop at the Henan Academy of Agricultural Science, touring the Henan Modern Agricultural Experimental Demonstration base. This afforded the delegates a chance to see cutting-edge ag-tech in practice, witnessing advances in crop breeding, high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation, plant protection, plant nutrition, and precision agriculture. On-site, they learned not only about standard agriculture, but also horticulture, as well as the cultivation of plants and herbs for traditional Chinese medicine. That evening, the group was treated to a banquet hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Henan Province Government, receiving a warm welcome from Mr. Liang Jieyi, the FAO Director.
On their second day in the city, the group visited the Henan University of Technology, taking a guided tour of their Museum of Grains and learning about China’s 10,000 years of cultivation history and modern advances. Afterwards, delegates participated in a state-of-the-art aquaculture training course centered on nutrition efficiency. The group then departed campus to see the South-to-North Water Diversion Project of the Yellow River, an enormous infrastructure project providing water access to 114 million people.
That afternoon, delegates were hosted by Mixue Bingcheng, which surpasses Starbucks as the world’s largest ready-to-drink beverage chain boasting 46,479 stores in China and internationally as of December 2024. The CEO of Mixue’s U.S. department, which announced their first store opening in New York this year, personally greeted the students and invited them to intern with the company.
Delegates were next transported to the Muyuan Group R&D Center, to experience the technological breakthroughs driven by the #1 hog producer in the world. Muyuan Group forms a pork industry chain that integrates feed processing, pig breeding, hog farming, slaughtering, and meat processing–notably, Muyuan is pioneering the “pig hotel” model, known for its monolithic multi-story building which can hold tens of thousands of hogs. With a tour of the facilities complete, delegates attended a meeting with senior executives, asking questions and hearing about how the company employs the 1 billion data points it collects daily about their hogs to develop high-quality, safe, and environmentally sustainable pork.
The next day, students were given a warm welcome on campus at the North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power (NCWU). After touring their Water Culture Museum, the group enjoyed both lion and dragon dances presented by NCWU students, then attended a welcome ceremony. That afternoon, students got to tour a fresh supermarket and see China’s quality produce first-hand.
On their last day in Zhengzhou, the group was given a tour of the Shuanghui Group facility. Shuanghui Group, which acquired Smithfield Foods in 2013, is the world’s largest multinational pork production company. Delegates were able to view the company’s slaughterhouse in action, as well as meet with the CEO for a Q&A learning session.
In Beijing, the students took advantage of their visit to China’s capital by meeting with major American agricultural leaders, visiting an experimental ag farm, as well as climbing the Great Wall.
Travelling outside the city, students arrived at Beijing Zhengda Egg Industry Co. to witness an innovative layer farm, which created a complete economic circulatory system with a feed mill, pullet farm, layer farm, and egg processing plant. Delegates then toured the adjacent crocodile farm–the facility’s unique way of utilizing any under-producing hens.
As a trip highlight of their visit to Beijing, delegates participated in a special briefing hosted by AmCham China with U.S. Department of Agriculture experts including the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Additionally, they had the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of the leaders of major commodity groups including the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), U.S. Grains Council (USGC), U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC).
USHCA is proud to offer these future stewards of America agriculture a first-hand learning opportunity to deepen their understanding of international markets and bring those insights home to support American farmers and rural communities. This delegation was made possible through the support of the U.S. Soy community, state and local trade associations, select universities, and private donations from the Heartland community.