HAIKOU, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The 5th World Shiology Forum took place from Oct. 28 to 31 in Haikou, the capital city of south China's Hainan Province, themed "A Holistic Approach to Addressing Food System Challenges through Shiology."
At the opening ceremony, the "Global Food Systems and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report (2025)" was officially released and presented to representatives of the United Nations. Compiled by experts from 115 countries, the report marks a key milestone in moving from theory to practice in the field of global food governance.
It is the first of three reports that will be released over a three-year period and provides a global inventory of key food-related challenges. The 2026 report will establish the Food Affairs Index System to quantify progress across countries, and the 2027 report will define long-term governance objectives for global food systems.
Food issues are central to global governance, and to the shared future of humanity. Thirteen of the United Nations' 17 SDGs are directly related to food, yet hundreds of millions of people still suffer from hunger, over 2 billion face the dangers of hidden hunger, and some 3 billion live under threat of diminished food safety. Meanwhile, one-third of global food production is wasted.
In a written message to the forum, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that the holistic principle of Shiology "points the way toward coexistence between humanity and nature. Recognizing the interdependence among society, ecosystems and the economy is essential for building resilience in times of crisis."
Li Feng, vice governor of Hainan Province, said that food affairs are fundamental to national well-being and social stability. He noted that Hainan -- China's only tropical island province and a free trade port -- is developing modern seed industries and strengthening green production and smart logistics.
He called for joint efforts to build a safe, healthy and sustainable global food system, noting that Hainan will contribute to implementing the Global Governance Initiative and the UN SDGs.
The forum also introduced a new theoretical framework: the Five Dimensions of Food Needs, referring to basic sustenance, dietary diversity, food safety, healthy longevity and sustainable supply. This model aims to guide global action toward ensuring the well-being of all people through food.
Liu Guangwei, director-general of the World Shiology Forum and head of the Research Center for Shiology at the Renmin University of China, said that the Five Dimensions of Food Needs framework signifies the growing maturity of Shiology as an interdisciplinary science covering the entire food chain. "By integrating the relationships between consumer, food and food order, we can move from fragmented understanding to systematic governance," he said.
Beyond academic exchange, the forum placed strong emphasis on implementation. It launched the International Standard for Concepts and Frameworks of Shiology, announced the establishment of the Shiology Research Center at the University of Pisa, and initiated the Shiology Classroom public welfare initiative in Hainan.
These initiatives mark the transition of Shiology from a conceptual framework into global action. Building on Hainan's openness as a free trade port, the province is expected to serve as both a demonstration zone and an innovation hub for global food governance.
Parviz Koohafkan, president of the World Agricultural Heritage Forum, said that "we must listen to the voices of farmers and consumers themselves. We need to be action-oriented and build stronger connections between producers and consumers."
Claude Caldwell, a professor emeritus at Dalhousie University in Canada, said, "Actions have to be local, but their impact is global. One of the great strengths of Shiology is its holistic nature. It brings many things together. We can't treat East and West as separate; We must take a global approach."
Founded in 2017, the World Shiology Forum -- formerly called the World Shiology Conference -- has previously been held in Beijing, Osaka, Istanbul and Hainan. ■
