A joint initiative between the University of Parma, the Italbiotec Consortium, and the National Interuniversity Consortium for Environmental Sciences (CINSA) brought three professors from the Guangdong University of Technology (China) to Parma. Professors Chuanxin Ma, Bin Han, and Chunyang Li met with Deputy Rector Fabrizio Storti, CINSA Director Nelson Marmiroli, and other colleagues from the Department of Chemical and Environmental Sciences.

The visit, part of the "Funchars" project, falls within a bilateral Italy-China program funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following the meetings, a workshop was held with experts from the USA, Turkey, Finland, Ireland, and Italy, focusing on innovative technologies to enhance the resilience of agricultural practices, particularly in growing rice and tomatoes on degraded or metal-contaminated soils.

The discussion centered on biochar, a carbon-rich material obtained through the thermal treatment of plant or animal biomass. The expertise of the Chinese professors in producing biochar from meat processing residues is of particular interest, given the significant waste generated by local livestock farms. Biochar provides multiple benefits for soils, including fertilization, water conservation, organic matter enrichment, and carbon sequestration, contributing to valuable ecosystem services.