The China-Europe Marine Biotechnology Forum was held in Zhanjiang, South China's Guangdong province on Nov 30. It was jointly hosted by the International Liaison Department of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and the Zhanjiang municipal government.

The opening ceremony of the China-Europe Marine Biotechnology Forum is held in Zhanjiang on Nov 30. [Photo/WeChat account: gdzjfb]

Focusing on marine biological resources, this forum brought together various forces to discuss the development prospects of marine biotechnology, build an exchange platform for high-end intelligence, and promote the high-quality development of the marine biology industry.

More than 300 experts and scholars from relevant research institutions at home and abroad attended the forum, as well as the people in charge of marine biology industry trade associations and economic trade organizations.

Sea rice boasts advantages like saline-alkali resistance, waterlogging resistance, disease and insect resistance, as well as lodging resistance, said Gao Jiming, president of the Anhui Dapu Modern Agriculture Research Institute and a specially-invited expert of CAST.

It can be planted in saline-alkali land and coastal tideland for soil improvement and environmental protection, while addressing food problems, added Gao.

According to Martin G. Banwell, member of the Australian Academy of Science, marine organisms can produce a large number of natural products with excellent diversity and pharmacological activity. The application of compounds extended from the marine natural products has been increasing in antibacterial and antiviral fields.