The Moldova–China Forum on Black Soil Farming and Related Activities took place in Chișinău and Bălți, Republic of Moldova, from 1 to 5 September 2026. Held under the theme “Sustainability of Black Soil Farming”, the Forum brought together more than 40 scientists and experts from Moldova, China and the United States.

The Forum was jointly organized by the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (ASM), the ANSO-World Mollisols Association (ANSO-WMA), the National Center for Research and Seed Production (NCRSP) of Moldova, and the Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGACAS). It was co-organized by the Society of Mollisols Resources Conservation and Utilization of Heilongjiang Province, the Heilongjiang Provincial Engineering Center for Soil and Water Conservation, and Alecu Russo Bălți State University.

The opening ceremony was held at the Academy of Sciences of Moldova and chaired by its President, Academician Ion Tiginyanu. WANG Lyuxin, Counsellor and Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Moldova, attended the ceremony and delivered remarks. Addresses were also given by Academician Ion Tiginyanu; Professor LIU Xiaobing, President of the ANSO-WMA; Dr. Anatolie Spivacenco, Director of the NCRSP; Academician Boris Boincean of the ASM; Sergiu Harea, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova; and Professor Rattan Lal of The Ohio State University, the 2020 World Food Prize Laureate, who participated online.

Twenty-three researchers delivered presentations during a full day of scientific exchange across four thematic sessions: Black Soil Formation and Fertility, Soil Degradation and Health, Conservation Agriculture and Sustainability, and Crop Breeding and Productivity.

Moldovan scientists described the distribution and formation of the country’s Chernozems and their importance to agriculture. Covering nearly 80% of Moldova’s territory, these soils provide a vital foundation for agricultural production and economic development. Speakers examined the threats posed by long-term cultivation, declining soil organic matter, water erosion, compaction, landslides, deforestation, climate change and inappropriate land use to soil fertility and the resilience of agricultural systems. They reviewed progress in cover crops, crop rotation, reduced tillage and no-tillage systems, as well as the contributions of agroforestry and silvopastoral systems to ecological restoration, carbon sequestration and regenerative agriculture. They also discussed the role of the soil microbiome in sustainable farming and emphasized the need for long-term agroecological monitoring and locally adapted soil restoration practices.

Chinese scientists shared recent advances in understanding the genesis, classification and age of Black Soils, as well as microbial communities in relation to soil formation in Northeast China. They summarized long-term findings on how soil fertility, soil organic matter, enzyme stoichiometry and biodiversity relate to tillage, crop rotation, fertilization, soil degradation and soil health. Presentations also reviewed the relationship between biodegradable microplastics and soil carbon cycling, conservation and restoration measures for eroded and degraded Black Soils, and the performance of strip tillage in cool-climate regions.

Researchers from both countries reviewed the history and recent achievements of soybean improvement in Moldova and soybean breeding in China’s Black Soil region. They discussed the relationship between soil organic matter and crop productivity, along with key measures for improving stress resilience and yield stability in non-GM soybean production. On the opening day, the Academy of Sciences of Moldova awarded Professor LIU Xiaobing a Diploma of Honor in recognition of his scientific achievements and contributions to scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries. In a session jointly chaired by Academician Boris Boincean and Professor LIU Xiaobing, participants adopted and jointly signed the Forum Declaration on Securing and Conserving Black Soils in Both Countries.

At the NCRSP in Bălți, the Chinese delegation visited long-term experiments on crop rotation, continuous cropping and conservation agriculture. Together with Moldovan researchers, they discussed how rotation design, crop residue retention, cover crops, tillage intensity and long-term fertilization affect soil structure, moisture retention, organic matter content and crop yields.

A detailed examination of a Chernozem soil profile was an important part of the visit. Moldovan specialists explained the soil horizon’s development in the profile and the effects of long-term agricultural use on the humus-rich layer and soil structure.

The Chinese delegation also visited a soybean breeding site, where they assessed the adaptability, root development, nodulation, yield components and yield potential of varieties and breeding lines in the nursery. During the visit, Alexandru Petcov, Mayor of Bălți, received the delegation.

The Forum and related activities strengthened ties between the agricultural research communities of Moldova and China, deepened friendships, and established a platform linking fundamental research, long-term experiments, crop improvement and on-farm conservation practices.

Building on the existing cooperation framework agreement between the ANSO-WMA and the NCRSP and on the Forum Declaration, the two sides agreed to advance the sharing of long-term experimental data, exchanges of early-career researchers, joint publications and collaborative project proposals. These efforts will contribute scientific knowledge and practical solutions for the sustainable use of globally important Black Soil resources.

The Forum received support from the International Partnership Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences through the project “Mechanism and Control of World Mollisols Degradation” (131323KYSB20210004); the ANSO-World Mollisols Association project (ANSO-PA-2023-12); the European TRAILS4SOIL project; UCIP IFAD; the Moldova office of Donau Soja (Donau Soja Chișinău); the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova; and Pro-Co-Re Bălți.