Our college hosted and helped organise “The 4th International Conference on Sustainable Animal Agriculture for Developing Countries Conference” (or SAADC2013) from 27-31st July, 2013, in partnership with Lanzhou University’s International Center for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management. The goal of the conference was to provide a venue for animal agriculturists (academicians, researchers, administrators, extension workers and livestock producers), particularly from the developing countries, to share experiences and develop collaboration to enhance development of sustainable animal industries in their respective countries. There were over 200 participants from 24 countries, including China, Malaysia, Australia, France, Thailand, UK, Indonesia, Spain, USA, Canada, India, Pakistan, Korea, Italy, Afghanistan, Japan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Germany, Iran, Nigeria, Kathmandu, France, and Brazil.

Our Students Volunteer and Participate
Not only did our college provide the facilities for the conference, but a team of our students played a vital role as volunteers upfront: helping with welcoming and serving refreshments, but also behind the scenes: clearing up and dealing with multiple enquiries from conference participants. Their contribution was greatly appreciated by the participants and aided the smooth-running of the conference. The conference was a great opportunity for our students to hear many international speakers and to practise their own English conversational skills.

Visit to Sustainable Arid Agriculture and Yak Production Areas
Mid-conference participants took a day-trip to Dingxi to see sustainable arid agriculture, or to Tianzhu to see yak production areas.

The overall conference theme was diversity for sustainable animal agriculture, with an emphasis on discussing issues and providing recommendations on how animal agriculture should be developed to meet the challenges that developing countries are facing in the continually changing globalized market, such issues as, climate change and environment, animal livelihood, and  genetic and production system.\