The 10th China Special Food Conference Concludes Successfully

The 10th China Special Food Conference was successfully held in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, from 23 to 26 October 2025, and concluded with great success. Hosted by the CNHFA, the event was jointly organised by Jiangnan University, Northwest A&F University, and Northwest University. It received support from the Shaanxi Provincial Administration for Market Regulation, the China National Institute of Metrology, and Wenzhou Medical University, with additional assistance from numerous domestic and international industry associations. The conference theme was “Weave Splendour from Ten Years of Light, More Than Just Faint Glimmers, Advancing Steadily to Open a New Chapter.”

The conference was academically chaired by Chen Wei, President of the CNHFA and President of Jiangnan University, together with Li Xiaokun, President of Wenzhou Medical University. Jiang Yujun, Chair of the Board of Supervisors, CNHFA, and Vice President of Northeast Agricultural University; Shi Hanping, Vice President of the CNHFA and Head of the Department of Clinical Nutrition, Capital Medical University; and Xu Xiping, Executive Chair of the Precision Nutrition Specialised Committee of the CNHFA and Distinguished Professor at the Institute of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, served as Academic Co-Chairs.

The conference attracted nearly 3,000 delegates from across China and abroad. Attendees included senior officials from relevant departments of the National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation, as well as several provincial-level health commissions and market regulation authorities. Nearly 100 leaders from local government and regulatory bodies, over 100 industry experts from research institutes, and nearly 100 corporate executives attended the event. Representatives from diplomatic missions in China and multiple international nutrition and health industry organisations also participated and shared insights. Leaders of nearly 20 provincial and municipal industry associations, including those from Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Shaanxi, gathered in Xi’an to explore the future development landscape of the special food industry. Over the four-day conference, one main forum and 28 sessions—including sub-forums, closed-door discussions, and standards review meetings—were successfully held. More than 100 distinguished speakers delivered nearly 200 inspiring thematic presentations, while 11 roundtable discussions featured engaging exchanges of top-tier expertise and thought leadership.

Authoritative Release: Laying Foundations and Charting the Course

At the opening ceremony, the book “New Quality Productive Forces in China's Special Food Industry” was released. The publication aims to integrate the latest academic insights and practical case studies from experts and scholars in the field of nutrition and health foods through the dual concepts of “innovation” and “quality”, thereby guiding the industry towards higher-quality and sustainable development.

The “2025 White Paper on the Development of China’s Liquid Protein Industry,” the “Blue Book on Sheep Milk Nutrition and Functionality,” and “The Fragrance of Sheep Milk” were among several important industry reports released.

The CNHFA R&D Fund was launched, and the Food Trusted Data Space Project officially commenced. Jointly promoted by the Centre for Food Evaluation of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the CNHFA, this initiative aims to activate the potential of data resources and strengthen the technological support system. It is expected to foster a virtuous new industrial ecosystem connecting “data – R&D – regulation – consumption”, thereby providing strong momentum for safeguarding public health and nurturing new quality productive forces in the health sector.

The Signing Ceremony for the Young Scholars’ Academic Open Fund of the “Sino–British Joint Laboratory on Health and Ageing” was held to establish an innovative platform enabling young researchers to address the challenges of ageing.

Showcasing Achievements: Building on the Past and Opening New Horizons

The conference featured a comprehensive achievements exhibition. Over 50 member organisations of the CNHFA, including vice-president units, participated to present the latest cutting-edge technologies, innovative research outcomes and new products in the special food industry. The year 2025 marks both the tenth anniversary of the legal recognition of special foods and the tenth anniversary of the CNHFA’s founding. A dedicated special exhibition zone titled “Weaving Splendour from Ten Years of Light” was established, featuring displays on: achievements in the special food industry since the revision and implementation of the Food Safety Law a decade ago; the CNHFA’s ten-year development journey; prospects for the future development of the special food industry; a retrospective of regulatory achievements in special food safety; a summary of the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Modernisation of Market Regulation. In addition, an academic poster area displayed 30 outstanding papers. Furthermore, the “Shaanxi Special Food Industry High-Quality Development Achievements Exhibition” presented Shaanxi’s characteristic products, including goat-milk products, health foods, plant extracts, and Qinling herbal medicines, and highlighted the Shaanxi Administration for Market Regulation’s best practices and experiences in special food safety supervision.

·Exhibition stands of selected vice-president units and member organisations of the CNHFA

·“Weaving Splendour from Ten Years of Light” Special Exhibition

·Academic Poster Presentation

·Exhibition on the High-Quality Development Achievements of Shaanxi’s Special Food Industry

Association News: Diligent and Unremitting

During the conference, the handover ceremony for the new leadership of the CNHFA Ingredients Specialised Committee was held.

In the area of association standards development, the CNHFA has launched the association standard project for “Determination of α-Lactalbumin and β-Lactoglobulin in Infant and Dairy Products”. Two additional association standards — “Determination of β-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) Content by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy” and “Implementation Guidelines for Population Nutrition and Health Intervention Studies” — were reviewed, approved, and released.

Converging Media, Reaching Far: A Decade of Shared Witness

Representatives from media outlets including Guangming Daily, Xinhua Net, China Economic Net, and China Food News participated in the conference’s media coverage. The CNHFA, in collaboration with Xinhua Net, launched a special in-depth interview series titled “A Decade of Witness”. Centred on the themes of “witness,” “responsibility,” and “innovation,” the series explores the industry’s development trajectory and the transformative changes of the past decade. Through in-depth dialogues with 13 industry leaders and corporate pioneers, it documents their stories of growing together with the conference, showcasing the determination, progress, and innovative achievements that have propelled China’s special food industry from its inception to its current strength.

Concurrent Events: A Spectacular Showcase

This conference was not merely a feast of ideas; a series of spectacular concurrent events also attracted a large number of participants. The SFIC Football Friendship Match ignited passion on the field, while the CNHFA Public Nutritionist Skills Competition highlighted professional excellence. The limited-edition badge exchange fostered connections among participants, and the cultural exploration of Xi’an offered a chance to savour the charm of the ancient capital. Together, these vibrant and engaging activities turned the conference journey into a rich, multi-dimensional, and unforgettable experience.

·2025 SFIC Football Friendship Match

·CNHFA Public Nutritionist Skills Competition

·Joyful Exchange of City-Themed Badges

·Interactive Check-In

The 10th China Special Food Conference concluded successfully. Building on a decade of development in China’s special food industry, the conference brought together collective expertise across the sector, further stimulating innovation and enthusiasm for growth throughout the entire value chain. The broad consensus and positive momentum generated during the event will further promote scientific and technological innovation and the transformation of research outcomes in the special food industry. This will help foster new quality productive forces within China’s special food sector and enable the industry to take more solid strides towards high-quality development.

With favourable winds propelling a long voyage and great responsibilities ahead, the journey begins anew. The conference announced that the 11th China Special Food Conference will be held in Nanning, Guangxi, in the golden autumn of 2026. Looking ahead, the next conference is expected to continue serving as a guiding beacon for the industry, bringing together diverse strengths to contribute the unique power of the special food industry to the realisation of the goals of the 15th Five-Year Plan and the advancement of Chinese modernisation.

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