Delegation Of Officials From MARA-CABI Joint Lab And Its Four Subcentres Convene To Develop Research Projects
10 December 2024, China: Officials from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA)-CABI Joint Laboratory for Biosafety and four subcentres of the Joint Lab have come together to share scientific progress and explore ways to further collaborate towards greater food security and safety.
This includes a specific focus on the use of more environmentally friendly and safer-to-use biological control agents as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to sustainable agriculture in China and other parts of the world.
The 17-strong Chinese delegation – which represents the largest such gathering since the Joint Lab was launched in 2008 – met with colleagues from CABI’s Swiss Centre in Delémont – where the European Lab is based and research carried out into the biological control of invasive weeds and crop pests such as the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda).
Shared updates with their Chinese counterparts
Dr Ulrich Kuhlmann, Executive Director, Global Operations, Dr Hariet Hinz, Global Director, Invasive Species, Dr Wade Jenner, Centre Director, Switzerland, Dr Feng Zhang, Regional Director, East and South-East Asia, and Dr Belinda Luke, PlantwisePlus Global Team Leader Augmentative Biocontrol were among the 13 members of CABI staff who shared updates with their Chinese counterparts.
These included Professor Jie Zhang, Deputy Director General of the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS) who was the Chinese delegation leader.
Representatives also attended from the four subcentres. These included the Anhui, Shandong, Yunnan and Inter Mongolia subcentres which are now operating under the umbrella of the Joint Lab in Beijing, China, and the recent meeting in Delémont not only served to review progress already made but also identify some substantial cooperation plans moving forward.
This comes as CABI and China prepares to celebrate 30 years of collaboration since they became a valued member country of CABI.
Subcentres are providing new biological control solutions
The delegates were updated on progress made on other species including how the subcentres are providing new biological control solutions for green mirid bugs (Apolygus lucorum), brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), yellow-spined bamboo locust (Ceracris kiangsu), maize lethal necrosis disease and wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia).
Furthermore, the Shandong subcentre has also identified, for example, the potential to collaborate on the promotion of biopesticides and biological control products to control tomato leafminers.
Dr Kuhlmann said, “The Joint Lab and its four subcentres continue to play a very important role in identifying sustainable management options for major transboundary invasive crops pests which can threaten livelihoods and food security.
“They also highlight the significant bridging role played in some major triangular collaboration and South-South cooperation initiatives.”
He said this includes the facilitation of agricultural technology transfers from China to other countries under the ‘Chinese Technology Going Global’ programme, and the consolidation of Plant Protection International Consortium under the framework of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative.’
One example of this is the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology-funded project – “Monitoring and sustainable control of trans-border grassland pests in China and Mongolia.”
Activities in sustainable and integrated pest management
Dr Feng Zhang said work through the Joint Lab also includes capacity building and training activities in sustainable and integrated pest management. For instance, the PlantwisePlus programme continues to work with local governments to build a network of plant clinics to help farmers diagnose and mitigate plant health problems in order to grow healthier and more profitable crops.
“By sharing our knowledge, expertise and resources, we are better able to strengthen the plant health systems of major crop growing regions of China and this includes Yunnan Province which is one of the largest producers of paddy rice, tea and tropical fruit in the world.
“It is also a major pathway for transboundary pests and diseases such as the yellow-spined bamboo locust, where we have already published research into better understanding the emergence and migration of this significant pest,” he said.
Strengthen collaboration
Back in June 2024, senior managers from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and Chinese Embassy in Switzerland visited CABI’s Swiss Centre to strengthen collaboration between CAAS and CABI.
Dr Qiaoqiao Zhang, CABI’s Director of Membership, Dr Jenner, and Dr Tim Haye, Arthropod Biological Control Programme Leader, welcomed this senior delegation led by Professor Wu Kongming, President of CAAS.
The delegation, which included Dr Lu Yanhui, Director General of the Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS, and Co-Director of the MARA-CABI Joint Lab, and Dr Jin Ke, Director General, Department of International Co-operation, CAAS and CABI Liaison Officer for China, were updated on progress made at CABI in general including its arthropod biological control and the PlantwisePlus programme.
The Joint Labs and subcentres are also supported with work carried out by partner joint labs such as that of CABI and Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI).
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