The 5th World Shiology Forum Convenes in Hainan
Haikou, Hainan - From October 28 to 31, 2025, the 5th World Shiology Forum was held in Haikou, Hainan, bringing together experts, scholars, policymakers, and entrepreneurs from 52 countries dedicated to addressing global food system challenges. United by a shared commitment to enhancing food governance, participants engaged in a series of high-level dialogues and exchanges.
The forum commenced on the evening of October 28 with a welcome ceremony marked by a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Against a backdrop of soft lights and melodious music, delegates exchanged ideas in a relaxed and pleasant setting. Xie Jing, Vice Governor of Hainan Province, attended and delivered a keynote address, extending a sincere welcome to international representatives. She emphasized:
"Shiology offers a critical pathway to addressing the global food crisis. As China’s largest special economic zone and its only free trade port, Hainan has prioritized food system innovation in its development agenda and is committed to establishing itself into a global hub for Shiology practice."
Grand Opening: Deliberating Pathways for Food System Governance
On October 29th, the 5th World Shiology Forum officially opened under the theme of "A Holistic Approach to Addressing Food System Challenges through Shiology." The forum serves as a concrete, UN-supported action following the "Global Governance Initiative" proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus" meeting on September 1, 2025, which charted the course for systemic global food governance.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres sent a written message to the forum, while former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon contributed the foreword to the Global Food Systems and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report 2025. Liu Zhenmin, China's Special Envoy for Climate Change and former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, read Secretary-General Guterres's message on site while Wu Hongbo, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, shared the foreword to the report by Mr. Ban and delivered remarks.
In the written message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres acknowledged that while global hunger is finally receding after years of increase driven by pandemic, conflict, and economic instability, an estimated 673 million people still face hunger nightly. He stressed:
“we must act together to create food systems that sustain both people and planet. The holistic principles of Shiology can help light the way.”
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the forword highlighted the complexity of food system challenges and endorsed Shiology as:
“a framework that integrates ‘eaters, food, and food order’ and provides a full-chain approach to understanding food system issues.”
Zhu Juwang, Director of the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, and Officer-in-Charge of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals under the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, commended China's efforts in advancing holistic solutions to food system issues, noting that UNDESA has consistently supported the World Shiology Forum.
Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China,delivered an opening speech. He stated:
"Shiology highly aligns with UN’s systemic approach, which emphasizes that various challenges are interconnected and cannot be addressed in isolation. Food security, climate action, health, gender equality, and sustainable consumption are interdependent. Shiology advocates for integration over fragmentation and harmony over exploitation, recognizing that what nourishes people must also nurture the Earth."
During the forum, Liu Guangwei, Chairman of the World Shiology Forum and Director of the Research Center for Shiology at Renmin University of China, presented gifts of Naxi hieroglyphic artwork via Siddharth Chatterjee to António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations and Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, symbolizing sincere gratitude and wishes for global well-being aligned with "Five Eater Needs" (Eating Enough, Eating with Variety, Food Safe Eating, Eating for Longevity and Sustainable Eating).
The forum featured seven thematic sessions combining keynote speeches and interactive discussions. In-depth exchanges were held around topics from food supply chain solutions, climate and ecological challenges, health and longevity, education and culture, to global governance and institutional innovation. Experts shared national experiences and proposed strategies, fostering a practical foundation for future collaboration.
During the keynote speeches, experts analyzed global trends and challenges in food systems from a far-sighted perspective. In the thematic dialogues, participants exchanged insightful views on key topics including Mediterranean and East Asian diets, the popularization of food system-related education and culture, the development pathway of food systems amid the global climate crisis, and global governance in food systems, laying a solid foundation for advancing practical actions in the field of shiology.
A key focus was the application of Shiology’s “Eater-Food-Shi-Order” framework as an integrated governance model to support the UN SDGs.
On the evening of the 29th, Liu Xiaoming, Governor of Hainan Province, met with forum dignitaries to exchange views on advancing the Hainan free trade port, food systems transformation, and deepening international cooperation.
Addressing Systemic Challenges Through Governance
Food system issues lie at the heart of global governance, with 13 of the 17 UN SDGs closely linked to food systems. Yet billions remain affected by hunger, malnutrion and food safety risks, while one-third of food produced is wasted. This stark reality underscores the urgency of building a more equitable, more inclusive, and sustainable global food system.
In his speech, Li Feng, Vice Governor of Hainan, outlined the province’s strategy under the “all-encompassing approach to food,” which includes developing modern seed industry, green production, cold-chain logistics, and a regional public brand, “Hainan Fresh Produce.” He affirmed:
“Through the World Shiology Forum, we aim to build consensus and cooperation for a safe, healthy, and sustainable global food system.”
Yang Xiaobo, Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), emphasized that without resolving food system issues, the 2030 Agenda will be difficult to achieve. He described Shiology as:
“A public knowledge product originating from China yet belonging to the world.”
Zhang Gang, former Counsellor of the State Council and former Chief Engineer of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, stressed:
“Food governance is a top national and global priority, requiring scientific top-level design and balanced, equitable implementation.”
“Five Eater Needs” Framework: Enhances Shiology’s Theoretical Maturity
The forum systematically introduced the "Five Eater Needs" framework—Eating Enough, Eating with Variety, Food Safe Eating, Eating for Longevity, and Sustainable Eating—establishing a shared vision for global food well-being. Yin Weilun, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, stressed:
"Food systems relate not only to individual sustenance and health but also to civilizational sustainability and humanity's future."
He urged rebuilding evaluation mechanisms, strengthening international collaboration, and promoting public participation to advance ecological governance of food systems.
Liu Guangwei, Chairman of the World Shiology Forum, stated that the introduction of the theoretical framework “Five Eater Needs” marks that Shiology, as an interdisciplinary system covering the entire food system chain, is becoming increasingly mature. He explained that this framework, structured around "Eater, Food, and Shi-Order," systematically integrates humanity's multi-level demands for food, providing a disciplinary solution with Chinese wisdom for global food governance. He emphasized that the "Five Eater Needs" not only directly addresses the fundamental goals of human survival and development but also lays the theoretical foundation for promoting the food system to move from cognition to governance, from partial efforts to holistic approaches, and for building a fair, resilient, and sustainable global food order.
Key Outcome Released: Embarking on a New Phase of Practice
A major outcome was the release of “The Global Food Systems and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report (2025)" and its presentation to UN representatives. Jointly compiled by experts from 115 countries, this report marks a new phase of practical application of shiology, and represents a crucial step in advancing global food governance from "consensus" to "action".
Guided by the theoretical system of Shiology, the report conducts a comprehensive stocktake of global food system issues, analyzes core issues related to human survival, health and longevity, and sustainability, and innovatively constructs a dual mapping framework of "Issue-Country" and "Issue-Solution,"thereby providing a scientific basis for targeted interventions.
It establishes a "three-Step implementation roadmap over three years": namely, in 2025, the first phase report will complete the systematic stocktake and coding of key food system issues; in 2026, a "Food System Index Generating System" will be launched to enable quantitative assessment of food system issues across all countries; and in 2027, a long-term target plan for the holistic governance of food system will be defined.
Published by Renmin University of China Press (Chinese version)
Published by Chung Hwa Book Co. (English version)
Advancing from Shared Consensus to Tangible Implementation
Not only did the forum pool wisdom and build consensus, but it also prioritized the promotion of practical actions. During the forum, the international standard titled Concepts and Frameworks of Shiology was released, marking that the development of Shiology has entered a new stage. Comprehensive and multi-level discussions and analyses were conducted, covering everything from the definition of basic concepts to the construction of the disciplinary system. After numerous rounds of discussions, revisions and refinements, this international standard characterized by authority, scientific rigor, and universality was finally developed.
The release of the Concepts and Frameworks of Shiology international standard has provided the field of Shiology with a unified and standardized terminology system and framework, greatly facilitating the sharing and dissemination of Shiology-related knowledge.
At the Forum, a launching ceremony was also held for the Shiology Research Center at the University of Pisa (Italy) and the global initiative for establishing Shiology Research Centers. On-site, the Research Center for Shiology at Renmin University of China and the University of Pisa (Italy) jointly signed a cooperation agreement, which not only marks the official establishment of the Shiology Research Center at the University of Pisa (Italy), but also signifies a crucial step in the global advancement of Shiology-related initiatives.
The Forum also focuses on the development of the next generation, launching the "Shiology Classroom" public welfare project to promote general education programs in primary and secondary schools and advocate for young people to develop sustainable dietary concepts. Meng Ziyan, Vice Director of the Department of Education of Hainan Province, emphasized the importance of diversified approaches, including curriculum integration and home-school collaboration. Lu Zhiyuan, President of the Hainan Provincial Charity Federation, described the project as a vivid practice of the “all-encompassing approach to food,” supporting SDGs and youth development.
For the first phase of the "Shiology Classroom" public welfare project, 32 Shiology classrooms will be donated and built in primary schools. Integrating local characteristics of Hainan, it innovates teaching models by combining shiology knowledge with local dietary culture and ecological protection concepts, aiming to foster students’ awareness of cherishing food and respecting labor, as well as healthy eating habits. Building on this public welfare project, Hainan Province will further improve the food education curriculum system in the future.
In addition, the 5th World Shiology Forum witnessed the unveiling ceremony of the "Institue of AI Digital Human Twins for Health", marking the official establishment of the AI-focused research institute. This initiative aims to actively respond to the cutting-edge development trends of artificial intelligence, and is committed to exploring the in-depth integration and innovative application of AI technology in fields such as personalized diet and health management. The establishment of the research institute represents a crucial step in promoting the transformation of the food system towards digitalization and intelligentization. Through empowerment by technology, it provides forward-looking explorations and solutions for the sustainable development of the global food and health sector.
Charity Gala: Embracing Philanthropy
On the evening of October 30, the Charity Dinner of the 5th World Shiology Forum and the Award Ceremony for the "Shiology Classroom" Public Welfare Project was successfully held. Guests from various countries and regions, dressed in formal attire and bearing sincere dedication to public welfare, gathered here. This charitable initiative is more than just material donations; it embodies a sense of responsibility and commitment, and serves as a torch that conveys love and hope.
At the dinner, the list of caring enterprises for the "Shiology Classroom" public welfare project was grandly released. Hu Zhenmin, Executive Deputy Director of the China National Committee for the Wellbeing of the Next Generation and Former Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and Liu Guangwei, Chairman of the World Shiology Forum and Director of the Research Center for Shiology at Renmin University of China, jointly awarded certificates of honor to representatives of the caring enterprises. This not only expressed high recognition and encouragement for the caring enterprises, but also paid high tribute to the spirit of public welfare.
The venue was filled with laughter and joy. Guests sang and danced, expressing their passion for public welfare through melodies and dance steps, while also conveying their shared aspiration for a better life.
Study Visit and Exchange: Exploring New Opportunities
On October 31, delegates visited the Exhibition Hall of Ding'an Taling Industrial Park, Daka International Food (Hainan) Co., Ltd., and Hainan Wanyuan Garden successively, to jointly explore new development opportunities for the Hainan free trade port.
Wu Hongbo, Former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, spoke at the symposium on behalf of the delegation. He stated:
“Ding'an enjoys notable transportation and location advantages and boasts enormous potential for future development. The local area should fully leverage the policy opportunities of the free trade port, actively explore integrated models such as "food + cultural tourism", attract international resources to participate in the development of the industrial chain, and promote the formation of a modern food industry ecological cluster that integrates R&D, production, exhibition, and experience functions.”
Wang Yingcheng, Secretary of the CPC Ding'an County Committee, extended a warm welcome to the delegation of the World Shiology Forum for their visit. He reaffirmed Ding’an’s commitment to becoming a demonstration hub for Shiology in practice.
At the symposium, many delegates spoke actively and put forward a series of innovative views and suggestions, injecting new ideas and new impetus into the future development of the Hainan free trade port.
The 5th World Shiology Forum, leveraging Hainan’s free trade port advantages, served as a demonstration base for global food governance and a platform for international dialogue. Participants agreed that applying Shiology to practice the Global Governance Initiative will inject momentum into building a fair, inclusive, and sustainable global food order.
As the 5th World Shiology Forum concluded successfully, Shiology’s influence continues to expand globally. Xinhua News Agency has distributed an English press release worldwide. Countries across the globe will unite and work together to contribute their efforts to completely addressing global food system challenges and advancing sustainable development.
Contact Person: Mr Zhang E-mail: Secretariat@shiology.world