Human heart structure beats 21 days in pig embryo in Chinese chimera study
The study, led by Lai Liangxue's team from the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was announced at the International Society for Stem Cell Research's annual meeting in Hong Kong on June 12.
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Borneo Post
23 minutes ago
- Borneo Post
From Wageningen to Inner Mongolia: Dutch expert reflects on decade of innovation in China's dairy industry
A staff member works at the Innovation Center Europe of China's Yili Group at Wageningen University in Wageningen, the Netherlands on June 19, 2025. – Xinhua photo WAGENINGEN (Aug 14): For Dr Gerrit Smit, a Dutch food science veteran, a professional leap into the unknown became the defining journey of his career. After a decade at the helm of the Yili Innovation Center Europe, Smit recently stepped down from his leadership role, passing the baton to fellow Dutch scientist Dr Carolien Van Loo. But he's not going far, continuing as a senior expert to support the center he helped build from the ground up. Established in 2014 in the Dutch university town of Wageningen, the Yili Innovation Center Europe marked the first overseas R&D arm of China's dairy giant Yili Group. It was an ambitious step for a Chinese company eager to tap into Europe's leading food science ecosystem. For Smit, it was also the start of a personal and professional journey. Smit (right) works with a colleague at the Yili Innovation Center Europe at Wageningen University in Wageningen, the Netherlands on June 19, 2025. – Xinhua photo Building bridges, building science 'When I joined, nothing existed, not the team, not the lab, not even the strategy,' Smit told Xinhua in a recent interview. 'It was a challenge, but also an opportunity to build something truly international.' With a background in molecular microbiology and biochemistry, Smit had held senior roles at Unilever, Finnish dairy firm Valio, and the Netherlands' NIZO food research institute. He'd also worked in academia across Europe and the United States, including stints at Wageningen University, Leiden University, and the University of Tennessee. But joining a Chinese company was new territory, and so was acting as a cultural bridge between East and West. Under Smit's leadership, the center became a hub of Sino-European collaboration, producing tangible breakthroughs in dairy science. One of its most notable achievements: the development of next-generation infant formulas enriched with human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and probiotics. These formulations, created in partnership with Wageningen University and other research institutions, have garnered multiple patents. The center also spearheaded innovations in cheese tailored for the Chinese market, products that combine European craftsmanship with local tastes. 'To see a cheese made with European methods, enjoyed in Chinese households, is deeply rewarding,' Smit said. Beyond product development, the center has delved into areas like probiotics, food safety, and artificial intelligence, often in collaboration with top European research bodies. Staff members work at the Innovation Center Europe of China's Yili Group at Wageningen University in Wageningen, the Netherlands on June 19, 2025. – Xinhua photo Decade of growth and mutual recognition Smit's decade at Yili coincided with an era of accelerated cooperation between China and Europe in the dairy sector. He noted their natural complementarity: Europe offers deep scientific expertise and industrial heritage, while China brings market scale, speed, and an appetite for innovation. 'Eleven years ago, European experts knew little about Chinese dairy companies,' he said. 'Now, there's growing recognition of their innovation capabilities and global impact. At the same time, Chinese companies are helping reinvigorate parts of the European dairy ecosystem.' One of the center's contributions has been its scholarship and internship programmes, which have supported over 50 young researchers from across Europe, including Germany, France, Spain, and the Netherlands. 'We've become an incubator for the next generation of dairy scientists,' Smit said. He also witnessed Yili's remarkable ascent in the global dairy industry, from breaking into the world's top 10 in 2014 to entering the top five by 2020. Smit noted that, based on his past experience with companies, achieving an annual growth rate of 1 to 2 per cent is already considered impressive. 'But at Yili, I witnessed double-digit growth.' The rapid growth of Chinese companies like Yili doesn't just show up in terms of business results, it fueled a heightened need for innovation, he added. Smit was particularly moved by Yili's commitment during the Covid-19 pandemic. 'While many European firms paused investments, Yili built a state-of-the-art lab for us. That showed real long-term vision.' Undated file photo shows the intelligent and digitalised production line at Yili Modern Intelligent Health Valley in Tumd Left Banner in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. – Xinhua photo Discovering China, one journey at a time Before joining Yili, Smit had never visited China. Over the past decade, he's traveled there up to six times a year, from Beijing and Shanghai to Hohhot in Inner Mongolia. Each visit brought new surprises, from bullet trains and smart dairy farms to sprawling cityscapes rising seemingly overnight. 'What struck me most was the speed of transformation,' he said. 'You'd visit a city, and a few months later it's almost unrecognisable.' One memory stands out: standing on the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, in front of a traditional yurt, surrounded by vibrant greenery. 'At that moment, I understood that the images in Yili's promotional videos weren't marketing. They were real,' he said. 'China isn't just modernising rapidly; it's doing so with deep respect for its environment.' Smit (centre) and his Chinese colleagues pose for a group photo at an Yili eco-smart pasture in Hohhot city, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on April 26, 2023. – Xinhua photo From the labs of Wageningen to the steppes of Inner Mongolia, Smit's decade-long journey reflects more than just professional success. It's a story of cross-cultural collaboration, scientific discovery, and personal growth. For Smit, what began as a challenge evolved into a deeply rewarding chapter of life – bridging continents, cultures, and industries. 'This experience is one of the greatest gifts of my career,' he said. – Xinhua China dairy Dutch food Xinhua
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Hybrid rice project launched at Nepal's sci-tech park
KATHMANDU, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Experimental seedlings of hybrid rice varieties were transplanted into Nepal South Agricultural Science and Technology Park on Monday, as part of efforts to help the South Asian country achieve food self-sufficiency. The first batch of 37 high-yield varieties will land at the hybrid rice demonstration zone of the park, which is located in the town of Rampur in Bharatpur city in south-central Nepal. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song described the project as the result of hard work for more than two years, calling it another progress in agricultural cooperation between the two countries on the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Chen noted that improving agricultural productivity and enhancing food self-sufficiency has become a global focus, and the promotion of China's hybrid rice technology is a key area in global agricultural technology cooperation and a key component of China's current global governance approach. "China hopes to help more developing countries, including Nepal, achieve food self-sufficiency through international cooperation and technological exchange, thereby promoting the shared development of global agriculture," added Chen. Agriculture is the backbone of Nepal's economy and provides a livelihood to a large portion of the population. "I believe that by using improved varieties of seeds, farmers will be able to increase their production, contribute to poverty alleviation, and achieve the goal of sustainable development by becoming self-reliant in rice," Mayor of Bharatpur Renu Dahal said at the inauguration ceremony. "These seeds will provide the potential for self-reliant agriculture, prosperous farmers and food security in the future," she added, expecting the program to reach farms in the local district as well as across the country. The park was developed with the support of China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center and implemented by Nepal's Agriculture and Forestry University based in Bharatpur and Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Daily Express
4 days ago
- Daily Express
Sugud holds Chinese herbs potential
Published on: Sunday, August 10, 2025 Published on: Sun, Aug 10, 2025 Text Size: Clarence with Liew and his delegation. PENAMPANG: The Firewood Protected Forest in Kampung Sugud holds potential for developing traditional Chinese herbs, based on a site visit by two China entrepreneurs, Yang Bin and Hou Guoqiang. Sabah-China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) President Datuk Frankie Liew arranged the visit upon the invitation of Datuk Seri Clarence Bongkos Malakun, Chairman of the ITCC Shopping Mall in Penampang. Advertisement Clarence said the protected forest area covers some 1,000 acres and is suitable for the cultivation and development of medicinal herbs. Over 300 types of medicinal herbs have already been identified in the area, including local varieties of ginseng and other herbal plants. Based on available data, the primary forest type in the Sugud Firewood Protected Area is Lowland Mixed Dipterocarp Forest, characterised by a rich variety of plant species. These include genera such as Shorea, Dryobalanops, Dipterocarpus, Anisoptera, Syzygium, Koompassia, Tetracera and Hopea. This type of forest is home to many tree species of significant economic value such as Seraya/Meranti, Kapur, Keruing and Mersawa/Pengiran which are highly prized for their valuable timber. Advertisement In addition to traditional knowledge passed down through generations, Sabah and Malaysia as a whole have undertaken extensive research to explore the applications of traditional medicine, especially herbal remedies. Although a significant amount of data has been collected, it remains incomplete and lacks an accessible, comprehensive compilation of results. Forests are a vital reservoir of medicinal compounds, offering a rich and diverse array of natural substances with potential applications in pharmaceuticals and health supplements. It is noteworthy that around 25 per cent of modern Western medicines are derived from the rainforest. Given that less than 5 per cent of tropical forest plant species have been studied for their potential medicinal value, this statistic highlights the immense untapped potential. Both lowland and montane mixed Dipterocarp forests – of which the Sugud Firewood Protected Area is an example of the latter – are prime habitats for a wide range of recognised medicinal plants and herbs. Yang Bin, Director of the Foshan Liaison Office of the Sabah-China Chamber of Commerce, said the State has great development potential. The Foshan Meichenhui Cultural Arts Co Ltd President said many enterprises in Foshan, China are keen to expand overseas and Sabah is their top choice. He added that China herbal medicine has strong development potential, noting that China has a long-standing history in traditional medicine. With the China Government actively supporting the development of traditional medicine enterprises. Meanwhile, Hou Guoqiang, President of Foshan Juanqiang Steel Structure Engineering Co Ltd, said steel materials have strong potential for development in Sabah, especially in the construction of factories, roads and bridges. He emphasised that their technical capabilities are a key strength. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
