During the pre-admission training from July 1 to August 9, 2022, 20 IMI students enrolled in the class of 2022 were successfully trained with the cooperation of China Agricultural Technical Association Honey Pomelo STB and Honey Pomelo Research Institute of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University.

First stage (July 1-3): Understanding and learning basic farmer education and professional agricultural skills

This stage aims to let the new students realize the significance of pre-school training and emphasized understanding the history, spiritual inheritance, typical cases, stories, practices and operational modes of STB. It could stimulate the students’ enthusiasm for working in STB and master them in various practical skills.

On July 1st, IMI students of grade 2022 participated in the opening ceremony of the national STB for freshmen preschool training. Academician Fusuo Zhang, the founder of STB, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor of China Agricultural University, announced the start of preschool training and delivered a speech focusing on the connotation and spirit of science and technology Academy, and encouraged the freshmen of STB across the country to know and care agriculture through training, "zero distance" contact with "agriculture, rural areas and farmers", cultivate the feelings of "agriculture, rural areas and farmers", and stimulate the sense of responsibility of serving it. The pre-school training means strengthening the mission of agricultural scientific research service, establishing correct professional thoughts, and laying a solid foundation for the research and service work in the STB. From July 2 to 3, new students continued to participate online in the 1.0-3.0 mode of national STB and the working skills in STB.

 Second stage (July 4-8): Introduction of professional skills by IMI’s teachers and graduate students

Through a combination of offline and on-site practical teaching methods, the teachers and students of the IMI let the freshmen understand the daily management, including rules and regulations of IMI and STB (including laboratory management in Fuzhou and Pinghe), and training of experimental skills and handling of finance related issues, etc. It helped the first-year students to understand the operational mode and development process of Pinghe Honey STB, inherit STB spirit, learn and master the basic working skills and methods for scientific research and social services in STB, stimulate the enthusiasm of students to work in STB, and enhance their ability.

Third stage (July 9-August 9): Teambuilding activity, research and agrochemical analysis, and summary report

The freshmen were divided into two groups to visit farmers, going to the front line and understanding the actual situation of agriculture, rural areas and farmers. They visited and investigated the current situation and existing problems in rural areas. They learned to practice and consolidate their experimental skills in the laboratory to prepare for future research work.

Through the research and agrochemical analysis, more than 500 soil samples were collected, and nearly 300 soil samples were analyzed for thallium content of heavy metals after grinding, filtering and digestion. The farmer survey covered 792 households in 15 towns, 73 villages and completed 610 valid questionnaires.

On August 8, the 20 students from IMI of class 2022 completed their pre-school training in more than a month and received certificates of completion after the ceremony. One week before the end of the training, the first-year students had a summary report and photography competition. The top three prizes were awarded based on the scoring of professional ability, independent working ability, public service and experience.