GLAST (Global Forum of Leaders for Agricultural Science and Technology) was initiated by Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in 2006 in collaboration with Food and  Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Consultative Group on International  Agricultural Research (CGIAR),  and  International  Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)  joined as co-sponsor in 2019,  which has been successively held for six sessions, and is well recognized by the international agricultural science and technology community as an open communication platform for leaders of agricultural academies and institutions worldwide, to explore solutions to challenges facing agricultural sustainable development. It plays a significant role in sharing information and experience, and promoting partnerships between countries, international organizations and private sectors. In November 2022, CAAS is to hold the 7th GLAST in Haikou, China.

Since 2020, the global pandemic of COVID-19 has made a huge impact on the global food supply chain, trade and livelihoods of people, seriously threatening the global food security. Facing the common global challenges, UN Food Systems Summit 2021 highlighted that the world's agri-food systems need to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable,  while agri-food  systems transformation  should be  further  promoted to  fight  poverty and  hunger, reduce inequalities and preserve the environment.  Agricultural  technology and  innovation plays an  important role  in promoting the transformation, and in this context, the 7th   GLAST  will set its theme on  “Science and Technology Leading the Transformation of Global Agri-food Systems”,  aiming to implement the UN Food Systems Summit outcomes and seek the pathway  towards  the  UN  Sustainable  Development Goals (SDGs)  by  2030.  Discussions  will focus  on the  f ollowing  four  agenda  items:  Improving  Agricultural Productivity for Food System Transformation, the Role of Cutting-edge and Game-changing Science and Technology in Agricultural Transformation, Rural Revitalization and Smallholder  Development  through Scientific and  Technological  Innovation,  International  Collaborative Research and Innovation to Address Global Agricultural Challenges.

In particular, based on the development of GLAST over the years, to further consolidate  GLAST  and  upgrade it as  a permanent international agriculture research and innovation platform, CAAS is planning to establish an international organization  “Association of Chief Scientists in Agriculture  (ACSA)”,  which  will  be  officially announced at 7th GLAST as an outcome of the conference.  ACSA  will be open to  all national  agricultural research systems (NARS)  and international organizations dedicated to agriculture and agri-food research and related disciplines, and will offer a global network for voluntary cooperation.