Welcome to the 26th International Conference on Coffee Science
Ladies and gentlemen, my fellows of coffee industry:
Welcome to Yunnan, China for the 26th International Conference on Coffee Science (ASIC)!
Yunnan, a southwestern province of China, bordering Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. It is located on both sides of tropic of cancer, has the typical tropical and subtropical plateau monsoon climate, bestowed with abundant tourist resources, comfortable climate and picturesque scenes. Yunnan is also home to 25 minority groups.
Coffee has been growing for over 100 years and is distributed over 7 provinces in the country. By 2015, China has boasted a total area of coffee crops of nearly 2 million mus, with an annual yield of 130,000 tons. Yunnan contributes 99% of the total coffee crop planting area and yield, known as the biggest coffee producer and coffee beans. The major coffee production areas are located at the plateau of 1000-1600m altitude such as Puer, Lincang, Baoshan and Dehong. These areas feature fertile soil, adequate sunlight, abundant rainfall and large temperature difference between the day and night. Additionally, thanks to the ideal geographic location and regional climate, the Arabica has formed its own flavor –“Fruity fragrance, rich but not bitter, Aromatic but not overwhelming, Acidity moderate to rich” reflecting the beauty of the Yunnan coffee.
The main venue for the 26th ASIC is in Kunming, a famous City of Spring, and Mangshi of Dehong Prefecture will host some of the events.
Dehong is “hometown of Coffee in China”, one of the biggest instant coffee factories in the world, and it is where Hogood Coffee Co., Ltd. operates. Mangshi is about 50 minutes’ flight from Kunming. It has developed transport networks, adjacent to Myanmar. The conference will offer free round-trip flight tickets and reimburse majority of expenses for the guests to the sub-venue.
ASIC is the most influential meeting for the coffee industry. The tenet of the conference is to assess existing scientific and technical knowledge on coffee; to encourage further coffee research in all relevant scientific areas; to improve coffee quality and achieve the mutual interest of coffee producers, traders, processors and consumers.
The 26th ASIC will include subject discussions on coffee chemistry, health and physiology, agronomy and technology etc. Participants will be provided with an opportunity to visit the coffee plantations and factories and to enjoy the different taste of coffee in Yunnan. Finally, on behalf of the Organizing Committee, I would like to extend our warmest welcome to the coffee scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and consumers in over all the world to Yunnan to attend the 26th ASIC Conference, where we can share the fruits and enjoy the coffee feast!

                                                                                                                                                                    Xiong Xiangren
                        President of Local Organizing Committee of 26th International Conference on Coffee Science 
                                                                                                                                                                  February 25, 2016