The 22nd China International Agricultural Trade Fair (CATF) kicked off in Tianjin on October 17. Adopting the theme, “Strengthen Brands to Drive Revitalization, Boost Consumption to Enhance Vitality,” this year’s CATF upholds the principles of “showcasing achievements, promoting trade, and fostering exchange.” With an exhibition area of over 100,000 square meters, the fair is hosting nearly 4,000 companies offering more than 25,000 products and is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors, including buyers and other professionals.  

This year’s CATF is hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and co-organized by the National Agricultural Exhibition Center, the Tianjin Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Commission, and the Jinnan District People’s Government of Tianjin Municipality. The fair features 12 specialized exhibition areas, including those devoted to premium brands, green and organic agriculture, smart agriculture, agricultural science and technology, and products from poverty alleviation regions. It brings together fresh and processed agro-products such as grains, cotton, oil, meat, eggs, dairy, fruit, vegetables, and tea, as well as advanced applicable agricultural technologies and modern agricultural equipment, spanning the entire agricultural industry chain. In addition, a series of activities—including an agricultural intangible cultural heritage exhibition, e-commerce livestreaming, industry–academia–research matchmaking, and experiential demonstrations of innovations in agricultural science and technology—will promote the development of new business models and emerging sectors in agriculture. 

During the fair, more than 10 key activities will be held concurrently, including the Forum on Strengthening Agriculture, the “Brand Night” livestreaming event to support farmers, and the National Agricultural Product Buyers Alliance Channel Matchmaking Event, along with interprovincial cooperation showcases such as the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Coordinated Agricultural Development Exhibition. To continuously improve trade effectiveness, nearly 50 matchmaking events connecting producers with the market will take place, including the “Thousands of Counties, Thousands of Products” promotional event. Dedicated areas for business matchmaking, livestreaming, e-commerce, and product evaluation will be set up, enabling face-to-face communication between suppliers and buyers, and integrating online data matching with on-site trade facilitation to deliver tangible outcomes in trade cooperation. 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, with Thailand serving as this year’s guest of honor at CATF. Exhibitors from 19 countries across five continents, including Brazil, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Uganda, are participating in the fair. The international exhibition area features a special China–SCO Agricultural Cooperation Pavilion to actively implement the outcomes of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tianjin Summit. The International Food Street, themed “An Immersive Culinary Journey,” showcases high-quality agro-products from around the world, fostering mutual learning among food cultures. During the fair, more than 20 ambassadors to China will visit and exchange views, working together to build a high-quality platform for international agricultural cooperation and promote practical cooperation in agro-trade. 

In addition, this year’s fair has launched a new CATF WeChat mini program, allowing exhibitors to showcase products online and buyers to submit specific procurement requests. The platform enables earlier and smarter matchmaking between suppliers and buyers, while allowing people from all walks of life to learn about and engage in the fair.