The International Training Workshop on Modern Breeding and Cultivation Techniques of Vegetables sponsored by the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology, hosted by the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers (IVF), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) was successfully concluded on November 1, 2019.

20 trainees from 11 countries including Serbia, Egypt, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Iran, Iraq, Nepal, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia and Chile participated in the 20-day workshop. The workshop invited 19 well-known Chinese vegetable research experts from China Agricultural University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hebei Agricultural University and the IVF, CAAS to give lectures. The trainees systematically studied basic theories and methods in the field of vegetable germplasm resources, cell engineering breeding, factory seedling, gene editing and other latest biotechnologies in a comprehensive way. The trainees expressed that through this workshop, they were equipped with advanced knowledge and practical skills.

Most of the trainees are scientific researchers engaged in vegetable crop research from “Belt and Road” countries, some of them established cooperation partnership with Chinese partners through the course learning, interactive activities and field visits. Vegetable experts from Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), Chile went to field trip of vegetable planting demonstration bases and agricultural facilities in Shouguang city, Shandong province, when they had conversations with experts from plant protection department on the management of main pests and diseases of vegetables, integrated control technology and applied basic research and development. They agreed that this trip in China will accelerate the construction of “Chile-China Vegetable Demonstration Farm” in Santiago, Chile under the strategic cooperation framework of “Chile-China Agricultural Science and Technology R&D Center”between the Ministries of Agriculture of the two countries. During the workshop, trainee from the Ministry of Agriculture, Serbia had an in-depth communication with peony experts and signed a science and technology cooperation agreement, under which they agreed to jointly apply the China-Serbia Intergovernmental National Key International Cooperation Project. Trainees from Iran and Nepal had a meeting with China Vegetable Seed Technology co., Ltd. (Beijing) of the IVF to discuss cooperation plan in the near future.

The successful organization of this workshop further explored the international cooperation channels of the institute, and enhanced the institute's international influence in developing countries.

By Shi Weijuan (shiweijuan@caas.cn)