On November 23rd, the highly anticipated 2025 Asian Mycological Congress officially kicked off in Guangzhou. With the theme "Innovative Mycology: Pioneering Sustainable Green Development", the congress brought together experts, scholars, researchers and industry representatives from China, the United States, Germany, Japan, Canada and other countries and regions around the world. It aims to build a high-end platform for academic exchange, achievement sharing and international cooperation, injecting new vitality into global mycology research and green development.
Distinguished guests including Marc Stadler, President of the International Mycological Association (IMA); Hyang Burm Lee, President of the Asian Mycological Congress (AMC); Guo Liangdong, Chairman of the Mycological Society of China (MSC); Lin Junmu, Vice President of Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering; Kang Zhensheng, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Lin Xiaoyong, Vice Chairman of the Guangdong Association for Science and Technology; Cai Lei, Vice President of the Asian Mycological Congress; Hoang Pham, Secretary-General of the Asian Mycological Congress; and Bai Fengyan, Secretary-General of the Mycological Society of China attended the opening ceremony. The ceremony was hosted by Dai Yucheng, Vice Chairman of the Mycological Society of China and Professor of Beijing Forestry University.
In the speech, Lin Junmu emphasized that fungal resources have demonstrated irreplaceable application value and broad prospects in many key fields such as food science, medical research and development, industrial manufacturing, agricultural production and environmental protection. From delicacies on daily dining tables to life-saving antibiotic preparations, from time-honored fermentation techniques with a thousand-year heritage to cutting-edge breakthroughs in bioengineering technology, every major discovery in mycology is reshaping humanity's understanding of the essence of life and continuously leading the economic and social development towards a more efficient, environmentally friendly and sustainable direction. Centered on the core theme of "Mycological Innovation for Economic Prosperity and Sustainable Development", this congress accurately grasps the context of current global development and responds to the common pursuit of food security, ecological security, health and well-being, and green growth in Asia and beyond, making it highly timely and significant. He expressed the hope that scholars and industry elites would fully share the latest research results, spark ideological collisions, build academic consensus, explore cooperation paths, inject new vitality into the development of mycology, provide new momentum for the innovation and upgrading of related industries, and contribute Asian wisdom and solutions in the field of mycology to regional and global sustainable development.
Lin Xiaoyong stated in his speech that fungi are valuable strategic resources for human sustainable development, playing an important role in addressing global challenges and providing innovative solutions to various problems. For years, the Asian Mycological Congress has continuously injected strong impetus into regional mycology research and industrial development, becoming an influential international exchange platform in the industry. He introduced that Guangdong, with its superior geographical location and rich biodiversity, has formed a complete fungal industrial chain, and the fungal industry is emerging as a new engine driving rural revitalization and high-quality development. Vice Chairman Lin called on experts and scholars to take this congress as an opportunity to fully share cutting-edge achievements and deepen cooperation in key areas such as fungal taxonomy, resource development and utilization, and disease prevention and control.
Professor Marc Stadler, President of the International Mycological Association (IMA), first extended warm congratulations on the successful opening of this Asian Mycological Congress. He fondly recalled the previous congress held in Beijing in 2013 and expressed great joy in returning to China to witness the vigorous development of Asian mycology. Professor Stadler noted that the congress features a well-designed and rich academic agenda, and the gathering of mycological researchers from around the world fully reflects its international influence and academic cohesion. He expressed expectations that participating scholars would make full use of this high-level exchange platform to conduct in-depth discussions on frontier issues in mycology and jointly promote the innovative development of the discipline.
Professor Hyang Burm Lee, President of the Asian Mycological Congress (AMC), pointed out that the successful holding of this congress in Guangzhou marks a new stage in Asian mycology research. The event has attracted more than 400 registered experts and scholars from over 30 countries, with 176 oral presentations and 156 poster displays scheduled. These figures fully demonstrate the vigorous vitality and global influence of Asian mycology research. Finally, Professor Lee solemnly announced the official opening of the 2025 Asian Mycological Congress and expressed his expectation that the congress would serve as an important platform for promoting academic exchange, advancing scientific research cooperation and enhancing friendship among scholars.
Guo Liangdong, Chairman of the Mycological Society of China, indicated that as a core force driving disciplinary development, the society has long been committed to advancing mycology research and education in an all-round way. Currently, it has gathered more than 4,000 members, establishing a professional network covering universities and research institutions nationwide, and playing a key role in promoting domestic and international academic cooperation. In terms of academic contributions, the Chinese mycology community has discovered and described over 1,000 new microbial species, with microbial resources from China accounting for a significant proportion of the world's total. Notably, China's edible fungi output accounts for more than 90% of the global total. In recent years, Chinese scholars have made breakthrough progress in taxonomy, physiology and applied research, injecting inexhaustible momentum into global mycology research. Chairman Guo emphasized that the academic agenda of this congress has been carefully designed to build a comprehensive exchange platform integrating basic systematics, medicine and environmental application technologies. It not only encourages in-depth collision of cutting-edge knowledge but also strives to promote the effective transformation of scientific research achievements into practical productive forces. He believed that the cutting-edge perspectives and innovative ideas of participating experts and scholars would fully converge here, injecting new vitality into the collaborative innovation in the global mycology field.
In line with the tradition of the Asian Mycological Congress, three honorary awards were presented to recognize scholars who have made outstanding contributions to mycology. Dr. Allen Grace Niego from the Philippines won the "Best PhD Award", Dr. Nalin Wijayawardene from Sri Lanka received the "Asian Young Mycologist Award", and Guo Liangdong, Chairman of the Mycological Society of China, was honored with the "Asian Distinguished Mycologist Award" in recognition of his remarkable academic achievements and industry influence.
In line with the tradition of the Asian Mycological Congress, three honorary awards were presented to recognize scholars who have made outstanding contributions to mycology. Dr. Allen Grace Niego from the Philippines won the "Best PhD Award", Dr. Nalin Wijayawardene from Sri Lanka received the "Asian Young Mycologist Award", and Guo Liangdong, Chairman of the Mycological Society of China, was honored with the "Asian Distinguished Mycologist Award" in recognition of his remarkable academic achievements and industry influence.
