The Congress consistedof three parts: the 11thInternational Symposium on Earthworm Ecology (ISEE), the 8thInternational Oligochaete Taxonomy Meeting (IOTM), and the 1stInternational Earthworm Industry Forum (IEIF). ISEE is a top-level symposium in the field ofearthwormecology worldwide, and IOTM is the top-level meeting in the field of oligochaete taxonomy. IEIF aims at convening theenterprises and elites in the earthworm industry to exchange ideas and to collaborate.

More than 200 experts in earthworm study from over 30 countries such as U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Australia, India, Korea, and Brazil gathered in Shanghai, discussed the earthworm technology and development of earthworm industry with over 30 business representatives home and abroad.

TheCongress host ProfQiuJiangpingstarted with introducing the guests present.XueHongwei,Dean of School of Agriculture and Biology at Shanghai Jiao Tong University,delivereda welcome speech on behalf of the host.FuGuoqing,Vice Chairmanof the Shanghai Science and Technology Committee,WangGuozhong, Vice Chairman of Shanghai Municipal Agricultural Commission,CaiYouming, President of Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, WangTianhou,committee of ShanghaiMunicipal Zoological Society,also deliveredspeeches.

Thesespeeches acknowledged the significance of theCongress.XueHongweibriefly introduced the background and future of Chinese earthworm study, and hoped the related research in SJTUwouldachieve more. FuGuoqingreviewed the study progress of earthworm in modern pharmacology and placed expectations on the earthworm industry. He also gave credit for the development of Chinese earthworm study, and showed encouragementon the study. WangGuozhongmade a thorough explanation of the relationship between earthworms and human, earthworms and crops,andearthworms and the environment etc. He talked about the positive effects of earthworms in the sustainable development of Chinese agriculture and environment, and showed his support for the industrialization ofearthworm business.CaiYoumingbelieved that Chinese earthworm scholars hadanadvantages in the field of pharmacy, yet the earthworm study in other fields werestillbelow the international level. He gave credit for the significance of earthworms in environmental improvement and increasing famers’ income, and also placed expectations on earthworm’s increasingly important role in the sustainable development of Chinese agriculture and environment, hoping theCongress would achieve more in every aspects. WangTianhouacknowledged the significant role of earthworms in the ecosystem, and appreciated SJTU’s study results in earthworm research.

YinOu,Directorof Shanghai Municipal Grain Bureau and Vice Chairman of Shanghai MunicipalCommission of Commerce, attended the Congress and delivered a speech. He regarded earthworms as a kind of critical soil fauna resource which contributed a lot in agriculture, environmental protection, and pharmacy etc. He alsoproposed the way to optimize government administration and to utilize the earthworm resources, so as to better serve the human society and economic development.

The next part was the launchceremonyfor the Chinese translation ofsenior professorMarcelBouché’sbookDesversdeterreetdeshommes(Earthworm and Human). MarcelBouchéwas the Honorary ChairmanoftheCongress.Desversdeterreetdes hommeswas the first book worldwide talking about the relationship between earthworms and human beings, which collected the essence inBouché’slifelong studyonearthworms.The Chinese version of the book was translated by ProfQiuJiangpingand Vice Prof Zhao Qi. It was introduced in the book how earthworms originated, evolved, and establishedtheir community,together withtheir relationship with the ecosystem, their seemingly negligible yet actually significant position in ecosystem, and the economic and intellectualenlightenment they brought to mankind.

The last part was the Signing Ceremony of Cooperation between Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai Natural History Museum. The two parts signed on the cooperation in the preservation of earthworm specimens and would cooperate further in the classification of earthworms.

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Translated by Wang Dan