The 2025 International Seminar on Global Poverty Reduction Partnerships—co-hosted by the International Poverty Reduction Center in China, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the World Food Programme, and China Internet Information Center—was held in Beijing on December 10. The event announced the award list of the 6th global solicitation on best poverty reduction practices, and CUG’s case, “Advancing Selenium-rich Industries via Geoscience: Experience from China University of Geosciences in Shidian County, Yunnan”, is in the list.
Since 2019, CUG has leveraged its geoscience expertise to implement a three-step strategy of “exploring selenium - cultivating selenium - developing selenium industries” in Shidian County, advancing rural revitalization. Through geological surveying, we identified and activated 200 square kilometers of selenium-rich land; established an integrated industry-academia-research system combining technology, training, and quality control; adopted a multi-brand strategy and a distinctive “selenium-enriched + breeding” model to develop over 2 square kilometers of demonstration bases for selenium-rich rice, tea, and peas; and created a rural revitalization model powered by a dual approach of “industrial demonstration zones + rural ecotourism”. Through university-local collaboration, we have substantially enhanced the value of the selenium industry and boosted industrial revitalization in Shidian County.
The Global Solicitation on Best Poverty Reduction Practices is an authoritative award in the field of global poverty reduction and rural development. Launched in November 2024, this year’s initiative selected 108 best practices from 840 submissions across 40 countries and regions worldwide. These selected cases will be promoted and shared internationally.
(Edited and translated from the Chinese version)
