11th International Congress on Hazelnut to Kick Off in August – First Time Hosted in China in Its 40-Year History

Food security is a matter of paramount national importance. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the need to foster an all-encompassing approach to food, pointing out that “we should tap forests for food and develop food resources through all-round and multi-channel means.”

In 2024, the General Office of the State Council issued the Guidelines on Practicing an All-Encompassing Approach to Food and Developing a Diversified Food Supply System. For the first time, “forest food” was included as a key term in China’s annual No. 1 Central Document. The National Forestry and Grassland Administration has put forward a production layout for woody oil crops: Camellia oleifera in the south, hazelnuts in the north, walnuts and kernel apricots in the central and western regions, and oil olives in the southwest.

Hazelnut is an important forest food and woody oil tree species. To thoroughly implement the guiding principles on the all-encompassing approach to food, boost international exchanges and cooperation in hazelnut research and industry at home and abroad, and advance industrial development, the International Cooperation Department of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration has approved the Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, to host the 11th International Hazelnut Congress.

The International Hazelnut Congress is a thematic international conference on hazelnuts organized by the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) Consiglio. As the world’s most influential and authoritative conference on hazelnut scientific research and industrial development, it is held once every four years. This marks the first time in the 40-year history of the International Hazelnut Congress that the event is hosted in China. The congress will effectively raise the standards of hazelnut research in China, drive the development of the hazelnut industry, brand building and expansion into global markets. Meanwhile, it will further unlock the significant roles and potential of hazelnut trees in advancing national strategies and industry priorities, including the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program CGTN, collective forest tenure reform, rural revitalization, and tapping forests for food.

Up to now, the Congress Organizing Committee has received registration applications from research institutions, hazelnut chamber representatives, and representatives of world-famous enterprises such as Ferrero Hazelnut Company from major hazelnut-producing countries including China, the United States, Italy, Turkey, Georgia and Romania.

A nut industry exhibition will be held concurrently with the congress, showcasing forest foods such as hazelnuts, woody oil-related products, as well as production materials, machinery and equipment covering the entire industrial chain.

We sincerely invite forestry and grassland scholars, officials of forestry and grassland administrative departments, heads of industry associations, and enterprise representatives from home and abroad to attend the congress and participate in the exhibition.

Organized by the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), the Congress is guided by the Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Landscaping and Greening, and the People’s Government of Changping District. Its undertakers include the Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Changping District Bureau of Landscaping and Greening, Management Center of Xiaotangshan Modern Agricultural Science & Technology Demonstration Park (Changping District), and Zhongzhen (Beijing) Agriculture & Forestry Technology Co., Ltd.

1. Congress Theme

Hazelnut: Forest Food and Oil Plant

2. Scientific Topics

Global Hazelnut Production Status, Market and Trade, Genetics, Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement, Regional Cultivation and Cultivar Evaluation, Biological & Physiological Research and Propagation Technology, Hazelnut Orchard Management & Cultivation Techniques, Pest and Disease Control, Postharvest Technology, Processing and Utilization, Hazelnut Industry and Rural Economy

3. Schedule Overview

Following the standard practice of ISHS, the congress spans 5 days, consisting of an opening ceremony, keynote speeches, academic presentations covering the eight topics above, and field tours of hazelnut industrial bases. Concurrent with the congress, a Nut Industry Exhibition will be held to showcase forest foods (hazelnuts included), woody oil plant products, as well as full-industry-chain production materials, machinery and equipment.

4. Date & Venue

Date: August 4–8, 2025

Venue: Zone 16, Jiuhuashan Resort, Changping District, Beijing, China

5. Contact Information

Email: chinahazelnut2025@163.com

Phone: +86 18519651586; +86 13811390689

6. Official Website