SUA in Nitra Actively Participated in the 1st Global Forum on One Health & Food Innovation in China
03.03.2026
From January 27–29, 2026, an important international event, The 1st Global Forum for One Health [&] Food Innovation: 11th CK Biannual [&] 8th Joint Lab Working Conference, was held in Tai’an City (Shandong Province, China).
The event was organized within the framework of cooperation of the Belt and Road International Joint Laboratory for Healthy Farming and Functional Foods.
The main organizer of the forum was Shandong Agricultural University (SDAU) in cooperation with Jeju National University (South Korea) within the China–South Korea International Joint Laboratory of Functional Polysaccharides. The first Global Forum on One Health [&] Food Innovation was opened and organizationally led by Prof. Guiguo Zhang, Vice Dean of SDAU. In his opening address, he emphasized the strategic importance of international interconnection among scientific institutions:
“The One Health concept requires close cooperation among experts in agriculture, food science, nutrition, and medicine. Our ambition is to build a stable global platform that connects research, innovation, and education for the benefit of human, animal, and environmental health.”
The event was held under the motto “From Farm to Table, and to Human Health” and was attended by representatives of universities and research institutions from China, South Korea, Slovakia, Greece, Spain, and New Zealand. Active partners included, in addition to Shandong Agricultural University and Jeju National University, the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), Agricultural University of Athens (Greece), Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche (Spain), and research institutions from New Zealand.
The Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra was represented by Prof. Ing. Miroslava Kačániová, PhD., who delivered a lecture in the section Sustainable Food Systems [&] Quality entitled “Natural Preservation Strategies in Food Systems: Effects on Microbiota, Quality, and Shelf Life.” In her presentation, she introduced current research results focused on natural preservation strategies in food systems and their importance for food safety and consumer health protection.
“Participation in this forum confirms that the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra is a respected partner in the field of food safety research, functional foods, and agri-biotechnologies. The joint discussions enabled us to identify new topics for international projects and to strengthen cooperation with strategic partners in Asia and Europe,” stated Prof. Kačániová.
The conference program focused on sustainable food systems and quality, food safety and consumer health, animal nutrition and the environment, as well as gut microbiome and metabolic health. The second day of the event was dedicated to the future of animal nutrition and the One Health principle and concluded with a roundtable discussion, during which participants discussed strategic research directions for 2026–2027, preparation of joint international projects including the involvement of European partners, and support for student and researcher exchange programs.
The participation of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra in the 1st Global Forum on One Health [&] Food Innovation confirms its active position within the international scientific and research network and represents another step in strengthening cooperation within the Belt and Road initiative. The forum created a solid foundation for new joint projects and systematic cooperation in addressing global challenges in the areas of food security, sustainable agriculture, and health protection.
