Chinese horticultural giant Joyvio is taking a proactive approach to building its presence in the blueberry industry by recruiting talent and strengthening ties with research institutions, according to managing director Chen Shaopeng.

Ahead of the Qingdao International Blueberry Festival & China International Blueberry Congress (CIBC) that kicks off today, Chen told www.freshfruitportal.com the company was investing efforts in four main competency areas - agricultural food technology, industrialization, informatization and industrial ecosystems.

The group also recently helped form the new Chinese Blueberry Association, which is now the second largest association in the country dedicated to just one fruit, behind the Chinese Apple Association.

Aside from that and its efforts to create the Qingdao Blueberry Engineering Research Center, Joyvio has also recruited an international team of blueberry experts and is working to build a "reserve army for modern agriculture" through partnerships with higher education institutions.

"We have deepened our partnership with China Agricultural University, Qingdao Agricultural University and many other universities," said Chen, whose company has co-organized the CIBC.

"Jointly, we have developed talent growth programs for those aspiring students to gain first-hand experience in our production bases or at international conferences like this.

"It also helps Joyvio to find and cultivate a team of future leaders equipped with both professional skills as well as modern perspectives on industrial development from the source."

The executive also emphasized the company's determination to improve production chain monitoring through advanced modern technology.

"Remote monitoring through the internet is in the process of implementation and is expected to improve our production efficiency while hedging against natural disasters."

Last year, Joyvio and the Qingdao Municipal Government formed a strategic partnership in order to turn Qingdao into China’s Blueberry Capital. In the Huangdao District, 11 local farmers' blueberry cooperatives have blossomed, in addition to the presence of the 10 major blueberry firms represented by the Joyvio Group.

Chen said the fact that Qingdao was selected as the location of the last two CIBCs said something about the area's strategic importance to Chinas blueberry industry.

"Sitting in the Bohai economic rim, Qingdao has one of the best blueberry cultivation areas in the world. With a latitude of N. 35°, Qingdao enjoys desirable conditions for precipitation and sunshine. With a slightly acidic soil property, Qingdao's land is suitable for cultivating mid-season blueberry varieties," he said.

"If we just look at Huangdao District, the blueberry cultivation area has reached 6.54 hectares and covers 17 towns and 136 villages, forming a core industry area centered around Zhangjialou, Zangnan, Liuwang and Baoshan. It is the largest and the most highly industrialized blueberry production center."

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