Symposium on the Research and Development of Artificial Feed for Rearing Silkworms Held at Guangtong Group

On the afternoon of September 1, a delegation of six—Professor Lu Cheng from Southwest University, Professors Cui Weizheng and Liu Qingxin, Associate Professors Zhang Shengxiang and Yan Yinfa from Shandong Agricultural University, and Director Zhang Guizheng from the Guangxi Sericulture Technology Extension Station—visited Shandong Guangtong Silkworm Seed Group to conduct a site visit and hold discussions on the research and development of artificial-feed rearing technology for silkworms in their early larval stages. The delegation was accompanied by Fang Dewen, Chang Wenyong, Xu Shanting, Guan Ruiying, and Guo Zhaoyi from the Group.

Professor Lu and his delegation first visited the Guangtong New Variety Breeding Base to examine the rearing of silkworms on artificial feed converted from mulberry leaves, as well as the processes of cluster formation and cocoon spinning. They then toured the artificial-feed silkworm-rearing workshop, inspecting facilities dedicated to variety selection and breeding, rearing of parent silkworms, and feed processing. Finally, they held a symposium in the Group’s second-floor conference room. Mr. Fang Dewen of the Group presented an overview of Guangtong Group’s current plans for full-life-cycle seed-cocoon rearing on artificial feed, the development of mechanized equipment, and the application of artificial-feed silkworm rearing. After observing firsthand the practices of full-life-cycle rearing of parent silkworms on artificial feed, including cluster formation and cocoon spinning, as well as the on-site operations for feed conditioning and automated feeding systems, Professors Lu Cheng and Cui Weizheng commended Guangtong’s achievements in recent years in using artificial feed for rearing parent silkworms, noting that the company is at the forefront nationwide in this field. They also put forward the following recommendations: first, continue to refine and optimize the feed formulation; second, place greater emphasis on the detection and prevention of silkworm diseases by introducing modern diagnostic tools; third, further standardize the technical operating procedures for full-life-cycle rearing of artificial-feed parent stock; fourth, persist in the research and development of labor-saving and automated equipment for silkworm rearing; and fifth, strengthen scientific-research collaboration and explore innovative cooperation models.

Finally, Fang Dewen of the Group expressed his gratitude to the experts and professors for their valuable advice, and hoped that they would continue to visit Guangtong in the future to share their knowledge and expertise. He stated that transitioning artificial-feed cocoon-rearing from the laboratory to large-scale production is an urgent and critical task for Guangtong at present. The company will carefully review and implement each of the suggestions put forward by the experts and scholars, further strengthening research in areas such as standardizing rearing techniques, developing labor-saving sericulture equipment, and optimizing feed formulations. In addition, Guangtong will intensify collaboration with research institutions and universities, leveraging the new productive force represented by factory-based artificial-feed sericulture to vigorously promote the transformation and upgrading of the traditional silkworm seed industry.