On January 4, 2025, Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, visited the global headquarters of the BGI Group at the BGI Time Center. Qu Dongyu gained insights into BGI’s progress in cultivating and globally promoting perennial crops, as well as its related research in agriculture. He acknowledged BGI’s significant breakthroughs in life sciences in recent years, particularly its achievements in agriculture. The two parties reached a preliminary consensus on establishing an International Research Center for Perennial Crops, aimed at addressing global challenges such as climate change, desertification, and food security.