On November 21, 2025, King Tupou VI of Tonga and Queen Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho, accompanied by Liu Weimin (Chinese Ambassador to Tonga), Qian Bo (Special Envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs of the Chinese Government), and Wang Jinfu (Vice-governor of Fujian province), visited the China National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO Technology at FAFU. Lai Hairong, Chair of the University Council, and Vice President Zheng Baodong received the delegation.
Field Trip to the National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO Technology
During the visit, the delegation toured the Juncao germplasm resource garden, observed the cultivation of edible and medicinal fungi using Juncao, and visited the workshop of mushroom grow bags. Lin Dongmei, Deputy Director of the Center, provided detailed introductions. King Tupou VI learned about Juncao varieties and characteristics, and showed particular interest in the global application of Juncao technology to improve people’s wellbeing. In Tonga, the “10-square-meter” mushroom shed model for poverty alleviation has been successfully promoted, which helps local farmers participate in Juncao mushroom production. With just one hour’s labor per day in the 10-square-meter shed, they can produce 1,200 kilograms of fresh mushrooms annually, earning 24,000 Pa’anga (around 10,000 dollars) — enough to cover a family’s basic needs. The delegation also learned about the Juncao feed processing technique and the simplified sterilization equipment featuring low cost and high reliability.
Through this visit, King Tupou VI and the delegation gained an in-depth understanding of the global cooperation network of Juncao technology and its role in global poverty reduction, particularly the fruitful application results in the South Pacific region. Over the years, the technology has contributed to ecological restoration, industrial poverty alleviation, and livelihood improvement in South Pacific countries. It has supported Juncao planting and edible mushroom cultivation industries in local areas, creating new channels for people to increase income. It has also achieved remarkable results in ecological projects such as soil erosion control and saline-alkali land improvement. The delegation and FAFU representatives jointly planted Juncao, which is nicknamed the “grass of happiness”. This act symbolizes the enduring friendship, mutual dedication to livelihood improvement, and shared commitment to sustainable development between the two nations.
Jointly Planting Juncao
It is noteworthy that international cooperation on Juncao technology between China and Tonga is deepening. Since the launch of China-Aid Agro-Tech. Assistance Project in Vava’u Phase V in 2022, the technology has been steadily advancing with tangible outcomes. From November 2024 to January 2025, an expert team from the China National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO Technology at FAFU stayed in Tonga for technical assistance. They have surveyed multiple islands and drafted the Ten-Year Development Plan for Juncao Technology in Tonga, and delivered four training sessions for 103 local personnel. They have also completed the maintenance of demo bases and provided demonstration planting and on-site guidance, which received wide attention from the mainstream media in Tonga. Previously, several Tongan officials have visited the Center at FAFU, and 11 Tongan officials and technicians have received training and conducted field trips to the China-Pacific Island Countries Juncao Technology Demonstration Center in Fiji. Juncao technology continues to inject new momentum into the agricultural development of Tonga and other Pacific Island countries.
Correspondant: Office of International Cooperation and Exchange
National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO Technology
Photogragher: Publicity Department Gao Yan
Translators: Chen Jun, International College
Hong Bingyu, International College