On January 26, CAAS President Dr. LI Jiayang, met with Mrs. Margaret Ann TUTWILER, Director General of Bioversity International. Both sides exchanged views on further consolidating collaboration.

Dr. LI made a brief introduction of CAAS and pointed out that ASTIP (Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Programme) provided opportunities for further cooperation. “In the next 10 years, CAAS would deliberate the collaboration with world-class research organizations and universities to boost agricultural development in China and the World.” LI also emphasized the contribution that CAAS and Bioversity made through the joint scientific projects which promoted the conservation of valuable crop germplasm and identified important agronomic traits for crop improvement as well as development of effective conservation technologies.

“Under the stress of limited arable land and plant disease and pest outbreak, it is high time that we made full use of biodiversity to develop adaptable varieties of crops and plants to mitigate the risk and stress.” LI added.

Mrs. TUTWILER highly recognized ASTIP as a gift for scientists. She said, “Based on our collaboration in past 40 years, we’ve improved cooperative level from provincial to international one. Bioversity International will continue value the partnership with CAAS. ” She also introduced the “Seeds for Needs” Programme.

Both sides agreed to develop specific cooperation mechanism and conduct joint research in pest control and prevention by biodiversity, and especially the conservation, evaluation and use of banana diversity. The collaboration will be implemented by exchanges of germplasm, capacity building and scientist visits.

This is TUTWILER’s first visit to CAAS since her inauguration as DG of Bioversity International. CAAS and Bioversity International initiated collaboration in 1970s. The Bioversity Office for East Asia was established at CAAS IN 1989.