On April 11, 2025, Prof. Wu Kongming, President of CAAS, met with Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The two sides held in-depth discussions on further cooperation in the field of nuclear agriculture.

Prof. Wu Kongming emphasized that the advancement of nuclear technology brought about innovative methods for crop breeding, pest and disease control, and other agricultural processes, demonstrating vast potential for application in agriculture and food production. He stated that CAAS attaches great importance to its partnership with the IAEA. Since the signing of the agreement to establish the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences – International Atomic Energy Agency Collaborating Center in 2019, the two sides have achieved significant progress in technical cooperation in areas such as mutagenic breeding, isotope tracing, and food traceability. Furthermore, CAAS and IAEA have promoted capacity building and policy dialogue on nuclear agriculture, making positive contribution to global food security and sustainable agricultural development. The renewal of the collaboration agreement in 2025 presents an opportunity to further promote practical cooperation at the Collaborating Center, improve working mechanisms, develop international nuclear agriculture cooperation projects, and strengthen talent exchange and capacity building. He also stressed the importance of actively engaging in the “Atoms4Food” initiative, jointly launched by the IAEA and FAO, to help Global South enhance agricultural productivity and provide technological support to address global food security challenges.

Mr. Grossi commended the achievements of the nuclear agriculture cooperation between the two sides and praised CAAS for its leadership in advancing nuclear agriculture technology innovation and international cooperation. He hoped that CAAS would leverage the Collaborating Center to further expand the practical impact of the cooperation, and support the “Atoms4Food” initiative by giving full play to its strong scientific and talent advantages. He also highlighted the importance of establishing a rapid response mechanism to assist developing countries in addressing both the structural and urgent food security challenges around the world.

During the meeting, the two sides jointly inaugurated the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences – International Atomic Energy Agency Collaborating Center for the 2025-2029 period and presented plaques to its five sub-centers.

Liu Hua, Deputy Director General of the IAEA, along with senior officials from the IAEA, the China Atomic Energy Authority, and CAAS representatives from the Department of International Cooperation, Institute of Crop Sciences, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, and Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, attended the meeting.