Discussions in Tasmania next week will underpin a new era of agricultural research collaboration between Australia and China.
Hosted by the University of Tasmania, Natural Resource Management South and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Australia-China Sustainable Agricultural Technologies Forum 2018 is the result of partnerships forged during President Xi Jinping’s official visit to Tasmania in 2014, initiated by NRM South.
The Forum will see discussions and the development of joint research projects across four key themes:
• Soil nutrients and moisture
• Waterways and catchments
• Bee health and pollination
• People and communities.
The Forum was funded with the assistance of a grant under the Australia-China Agricultural Cooperation Agreement Program administered by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
The Tasmanian Government continues to actively support this forum and ongoing engagement between Tasmania and China, through the Department of State Growth and the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, recognising the growing importance of these bilateral ties.
President Xi’s vision for China involves the concept of Ecological Civilization, in recognition of China’s pressing need to move actively towards sustainable agricultural and environment practice.
University of Tasmania Vice-Chancellor Professor Rufus Black said Tasmania had significant expertise to bring to bear on questions of agricultural sustainability, and much to learn from one of its most important trading partners.
“There are few areas of research that are as vital to our futures as agriculture, which sees us grappling with issues as elemental as our very survival,” Professor Black said.
“It is only together that we can answer questions as big as how to sustainably feed the world’s people.”
The Forum builds on developing partnerships between CAAS, China’s largest agricultural research body, the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) and NRM regions across Australia. NRM South is one of 56 Natural Resource Management (NRM) bodies in Australia and TIA is a global leader in agricultural and food science with strong capabilities in irrigation, soils, waterways and pollinator research.
More than 20 leading Chinese scientists, led by CAAS Vice-President Professor Mei Xurong, are travelling to Hobart as part of the CAAS delegation. They will be working with scientists and NRM practitioners from across Australia to develop a suite of projects for mutual cooperation and development into the future.
The Forum is the first major action to stem from the signing of Memoranda of Understanding between the University, CAAS and NRM South during a visit from CAAS President Professor Tang in November last year.
NRM South Chief Executive Officer Donald Coventry said the Chinese government was increasingly seeking knowledge and partnerships to deal with environment restoration.
“The CAAS involvement, in seeking partnerships around NRM, is an opening for Australia to build a knowledge and delivery sector that will assist China. Likewise, we will benefit from our cultural and knowledge exchange with one of our key trading partners,” Mr Coventry said.
“As we continue to work together, through the Forum and beyond, Tasmania’s substance and recognition as a leader in sustainable environmental and agricultural practice will grow, alongside new links to premium markets in China.”
TIA Director Professor Holger Meinke said CAAS was one of the largest scientific organisations in the world that would be integral to China’s increasing focus on sustainable agriculture.
“It has been exciting to see early discussions lead to MOUs, and MOUs lead to action like this Forum,” Professor Meinke said. “As a specialist in agricultural and food science, TIA looks forward to collaborating on the joint research projects that will emerge from the Forum.”
The forum will run from Monday 30 April to Friday 4 May 2018.
Communications and Media Office University of Tasmania
