Figure: IRRI Director General Matthew Morell and CAU President Bingsheng Ke in a handshake, sealing the renewal of an agreement between their two institutions to work together in rice research, training, and knowledge exchange. With them are senior officials of CAU and officers and trustees of IRRI. (Beijing, 15 March 2017)

The China Agricultural University (CAU) signed an agreement with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on 15 March 2017, renewing a partnership to boost research, training, and knowledge and technologies exchange between the two institutions.

Under the new agreement, CAU and IRRI scientists will collaborate on several areas of rice research including genomics and advanced breeding.

Also through the agreement, the two institutions are seeking to strengthen their mutual capacity through scientist and student exchanges and mentoring. CAU’s College of Agronomy and Biotechnology will be working with the newly launched IRRI Education, in instituting course offerings on modern genomics and molecular breeding.

CAU is China’s oldest higher educational institution on agriculture. It is an important partner of IRRI and has previously partnered with the institute on research related to ‘aerobic’ rice, agricultural models, and Green Super Rice.

IRRI’s active engagement of China as a partner in rice research recognizes the country’s leadership in several areas including genomics and hybrid rice technology, as well as of the economic giant’s potential to contribute greatly to regional food security.

See IRRI News; March 24 2017: http://irri.org/news/media-releases/top-china-university-renews-research-ties-with-irri