Jointly Building a Sino-French International Cooperation Platform for "Medicine and Food Homology": Promoting the Integrated Development of Agricultural Science and Health Industries

During the visit to France by a delegation led by Zhou Wei, President of Henan Agricultural University and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, a Strategic Cooperation Agreement was officially signed in Paris between the university and the International Academy of Food & Phytomedicine Homology (IAFPH). With the concept of "Medicine and Food Homology" as a connecting link, the two parties will work together to build a Sino-French joint scientific research and innovation platform, promoting the integrated development of agricultural science and technology innovation and the health industries.

IAFPH is a France-based research and cooperation platform dedicated to promoting the international dissemination, standardization, and practical application of the "Medicine and Food Homology" concept. Operating across a full life-cycle pathway—"Quality Cultivation, In-depth Research, Stable Production, Wide Application, and Transparent Traceability"—the Academy focuses on plant-based health interventions and the construction of functional food systems. It actively drives the cross-border integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with modern agriculture, nutritional science, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Academy operates through five core committees: Scientific, Engineering, Cultural, Policy & Regulatory, and Industrial. By integrating global resources in research, industry, culture, and policy, IAFPH conducts fundamental research, standard-setting, product certification, brand building, and international exchange to establish a globally credible model for the "Medicine and Food Homology" health industry. Deeply integrated into the "One Health" framework, the Academy advocates for global health solutions rooted in nature, evidenced by science, and bridged by culture. Its key initiatives include: Research on the functional activities of medicinal plants and the development of international standard systems; Comparative studies on China-EU health food regulations and market access pathways; Protection of Geographical Indications (GI) and standardization of ecological cultivation; Construction of digital traceability systems; Global dissemination of "Medicine and Food Homology" culture and international industrial strategic planning.

The signing ceremony took place at the IAFPH headquarters in Paris. Academician Zhou Wei, President of Henan Agricultural University, signed the agreement on behalf of the university. Professor Jean-Yves MOISSERON, Honorary President of IAFPH, Research Director at the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), and Professor at Université Paris Cité, signed on behalf of the Academy.

Distinguished guests in attendance included Professor Tu Ke, Director of the International Cooperation Office of Henan Agricultural University, and Professor Chen Feng, Vice Dean of the College of Agronomy. Representing IAFPH were Dr. Feng Shixing (Executive Vice President), Mr. Yang Zhiming (Secretary-General), and Ms. Isabelle FOURNIER (Member of the Cultural Committee).

During the ceremony, Academician Zhou Wei presented Dr. Feng Shixing and Mr. Yang Zhiming with letters of appointment as Researchers of the Henan Provincial International Communication Center for Culture and Landscape. This gesture signifies a further consolidation of the academic foundation between the two parties and lays a solid groundwork for collaborative innovation in cultural dissemination, health education, and international cooperation.

In his address, Academician Zhou Wei stated that Henan Agricultural University, as a university co-constructed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the People's Government of Henan Province, has always actively promoted international cooperation with an open and inclusive attitude, striving to pioneer new directions at the intersection of agricultural science and human health. He noted that IAFPH’s mission to advance the scientific development, internationalization, and standardization of the "Medicine and Food Homology" concept globally aligns perfectly with the university's disciplinary strengths. This signing not only establishes a multi-field cooperation platform for both parties but also provides crucial support for the global research of medicinal plants.

In his speech, Professor Jean-Yves MOISSERON pointed out that Henan Province is a major hub for agriculture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) resources in China, possessing a robust research foundation and immense industrial potential. IAFPH hopes that through deep cooperation with Henan Agricultural University, the concept of "Medicine and Food Homology" can be more widely applied in fields such as agricultural technology, nutrition and health, sustainable food systems, and climate-resilient agriculture, providing a Sino-French cooperation model for the integrated development of global agriculture and health.

According to the agreement, both parties will focus on deep collaboration in areas including the "Construction of an International Research Cooperation Platform for Medicinal Plants," "Scientific Innovation and Industrial Transformation of Medicine and Food Homology," "Healthy Food Systems and Carbon Footprint Research," and "Joint Student Cultivation and Academic Exchanges." The two sides will jointly advance interdisciplinary research, youth scholar exchange programs, and the establishment of a Sino-French International Forum on Medicine and Food Homology, exploring mechanisms for the transformation of scientific achievements to promote the synergistic development of research, education, and industry.

This signing marks an important milestone for Henan Agricultural University in the field of international scientific and technological cooperation, and represents another major step in deepening Sino-French collaboration in agriculture and health. By joining forces with IAFPH, Henan Agricultural University will further expand its global research network, enhance its international influence, and help the concept of "Medicine and Food Homology" reach the global stage, contributing Chinese wisdom and the strength of the Central Plains to global health and sustainable development.