CAAS, Rothamsted Research held Workshop for Joint Research Potentials
DATE:2014-11-21 SOURCE:The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and the Rothamsted Research of UK co-organized a Workshop for Joint Research Potentials in Beijing on Nov. 13-14, 2014.
Mr. Li Jiayang, MOA Vice Minister and CAAS President, Mr. Feng Feng, Head of Bureau of International Cooperation of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and Professor Achim Dobermann, Director of the Rothamsted Research attended and addressed the opening ceremony.
Li noted that the workshop provided both sides a platform and an opportunity to enhance communication and seek solutions to the emerging problems for sustainable agricultural development.
The workshop is a major preparatory activity for the establishment of a joint research center, and its outcomes will contribute to the implementation plan and program for the center, elevating the bilateral cooperation between academic institutes and universities on sustainable agricultural development to a new height.
Li also pointed out that global agricultural development is facing huge challenges. In the coming decades, the world population is estimated to hit nine billion, driving rapid growth of global food demand and creating unprecedented pressure.
As the Chinese and UK governments both attach great importance to the sustainability of agricultural ecology and production, CAAS and the Rothamsted Research are brought together by the common mission and development goals. To address the current major problems, countries, research institutes and scientists across the world should work together more closely.
Professor Achim Dobermann responded that the Rothamsted Research has maintained a good partnership with CAAS since long time ago. Both sides highly value the S&T exchange and cooperation in soil, crop cultivation and breeding, and there are great potentials for intensifying cooperation.
He also underlined that scientists of both countries should set up a joint research center in light of future demand, and continuously promotejoint research.
The workshop culminated in 13 cooperation project proposals covering four areas including crop efficiency, soil management, integrated pest management and new models of agricultural innovation policy.