Yichang hosts international synthetic biology symposium

Chen Zai

The 2026 International Synthetic Biology Symposium was recently held in Yichang, focusing on advances in synthetic biology technologies and the commercialization of biomanufacturing.

The 2026 International Synthetic Biology Symposium in Yichang.
 

Organized by the China Biotech Fermentation Industry Association and hosted by Angel Yeast, the symposium brought together more than 200 academicians, experts and business representatives from China and abroad for in-depth discussions on chassis cell construction, metabolic engineering, green bioprocess development, and the creation of high-value products.

More than 200 academicians, experts, and business representatives from China and abroad take part.
 

Experts including Sun Baoguo and Chen Jian, members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Zhou Weibiao, a fellow of the Singapore National Academy of Science, Xian-En Zhang, dean of the Faculty of Synthetic Biology at Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology, and Martin Simon Borchert, senior director of global R&D strategy and digitalization at Novonesis, shared insights on topics including baijiu flavor chemistry, future foods and biomanufacturing, and synthetic biology and artificial intelligence.

Sun Baoguo, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, discusses the flavor chemistry of baijiu.
 

Chen Jian, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, discusses how biomanufacturing is driving the future food revolution.

The event also featured the Symposium of Academicians and Experts on the Development of the Biomanufacturing Industry, along with expert seminars and other activities.
 

Synthetic biotechnology and the biofermentation industry have become key sources of food ingredients, functional ingredients, and new materials for everyday chemical products. In the first half of 2026, output of major products in China’s biofermentation industry totaled approximately 17.58 million tons, with a total output value of nearly 134 billion yuan (US$20.07 billion).
 

Yichang’s biomanufacturing industry chain reached a scale of 65 billion yuan in 2025 and is expected to exceed 100 billion yuan by 2030.