Blooming sunflowers in Fuxing town of Wuyuan county in Bayannur city. [Photo provided to goinnermongolia.com.cn]

According to the Inner Mongolia Sunflower Association, the 21st International Sunflower Conference will be held in Wuyuan county of Bayannur city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region from Aug 21 to 24.

The conference, held once every four years, stands as the most authoritative international academic event in the sunflower industry.

During the conference, nearly 100 varieties of sunflowers from around the world will be showcased, accompanied by presentations from 10 internationally renowned experts.

Inner Mongolia is the largest producer of edible sunflowers and a major distribution center for sunflower seeds in China.

Wuyuan county has an annual planting area of approximately 1.2 million mu (80,000 hectares), constituting one-seventh of the national total. Sixty percent of the county's farmers' incomes derive from the sunflower industry, earning it the name "Hometown of Sunflowers".

Staff members of Sanrui Agricultural Science Co check the growth conditions of sunflowers in the field. [Photo provided to goinnermongolia.com.cn]

Presently, Wuyuan has established the largest sunflower seed trading market in the country, with an annual trading volume that exceeds 300 million kg, making it a national center for sunflower seed distribution and price formation.

For every seven sunflower seeds in China, one comes from Wuyuan. "Wuyuan Sunflower Seeds" have been included in the national list of excellent new agricultural products, while "Wuyuan Sunflowers" have been registered as a geographical indication trademark and included in the list of the top 100 agricultural product brands in China.

Wuyuan was designated as a national sunflower industry demonstration base, and has since implemented the Hetao sunflower industry cluster development project.

By leveraging Sanrui Agricultural Science Co, Wuyuan has established the country's first Sunflower Technology Research Institute and the largest sunflower seed trading market.

With over 60 percent of the national market share in self-developed edible sunflower varieties, the county has been awarded the hosting rights for the 21st International Sunflower Conference.

Scientific researchers check the growth conditions of sunflowers in the field. [Photo provided to goinnermongolia.com.cn]