On April 27, the Third Meeting of the First Academic Committee of the Key Laboratory of Cold Chain Food Processing and Safety Control, Ministry of Education (Cultivation) was convened at Zhengzhou University of Light Industry (ZZULI). The meeting was attended by prominent experts and scholars, including Academician Zhu Beiwei from Dalian Polytechnic University, Academician Chen Wei from China Agricultural University, Academician Xie Mingyong from Nanchang University, Academician Xue Changhu from Ocean University of China, along with specialists from China Meat Food Comprehensive Research Center, South China University of Technology, Shanghai Ocean University and other universities and research institutes. Meanwhile, President Wei Shizhong, Vice President Cao Jian, Director Bai Yanhong of the Key Laboratory of Cold Chain Food Processing and Safety Control, Ministry of Education (Cultivation) (hereinafter referred to as the "Laboratory"), heads of relevant functional departments, leading members of the College of Food and Bioengineering, and academic key members of the Laboratory were also present. The meeting was chaired by Vice President Cao Jian.

Prior to the meeting, Zhang Zhijian, Secretary of the Party Committee of ZZULI, met with experts of the Laboratory’s Academic Committee.

During the meeting, President Wei Shizhong delivered a welcome address on behalf of ZZULI. He provided a brief overview of ZZULI’s general profile, with a focus on its achievements in discipline construction, talent cultivation, and sci-tech innovation over the past few years. He elaborated on ZZULI’s contributions to industry advancement and regional socio-economic development. Furthermore, he solicited valuable advice from the committee members, requesting them to offer professional guidance to steer the Laboratory’s development orientation, solve bottleneck problems and pioneer its future development, in a bid to help the Laboratory explore new academic growth points and further foster its core competitiveness.

Zhang Hua, Deputy Director of the Laboratory, delivered a comprehensive report covering the Laboratory’s scientific research output, talent cultivation, team building, and social services over the past three years. He also outlined the Laboratory’s work plan for the next phase. Academic Committee members gave high praise to the progress achieved by the Laboratory and engaged in an in-depth discussion regarding its development momentum. They recommended that the Laboratory continuously intensify efforts in recruiting and cultivating national-level talents to perfect the high-caliber talent echelon; further consolidate distinctive advantages and promote interdisciplinary research to achieve breakthroughs in the fields of nutrition and health and intelligent manufacturing; deepen the transformation of scientific achievements, persistently tackle key technological bottlenecks based on the industrial demands of Henan Province, and enhance industrial service capabilities; refine the mechanism for reinvesting research outcomes into teaching, while expanding international collaboration channels to enhance the Laboratory’s global influence; and reinforce the underpinning for its development and operational management to drive its early inclusion in the list of Key Laboratories of the Ministry of Education. Subsequently, Bai Yanhong delivered a statement on behalf of the Laboratory.

Vice President Cao Jian expressed his gratitude to the experts for their guidance and suggestions. He noted that ZZULI would further strengthen the Laboratory’s operation and management, increase investment in its construction, and fully enhance its support for resources and conditions.