From March 17 to 22, at the invitation of the Department of Crop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) of Lao PDR, a delegation of eight experts led by Prof. Zhang Jie, Deputy Director General of the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS), visited Vientiane to advance bilateral cooperation on plant biosafety.
The delegation held meetings with Mr. Bounsu Soudmaly, Deputy Director General of the Department of Agriculture, and Dr. Souliya Souvandouane, Director of the Plant Protection Center (PPC), along with other senior officials and technical staff. The two sides discussed implementation plans for several collaborative projects in Laos, including the Strategic Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Project under China’s National Key R&D Program, the Asia Cooperation Fund Project, and Phase II of the International Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (CAASTIP II). They also reviewed progress on the development of the Lao PDR-China Joint Laboratory for Plant Protection.
Prof. Zhang Jie introduced the key achievements since the joint laboratory’s establishment. Dr. Souvandouane expressed appreciation for the long-term support from IPPCAAS and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation. According to the shared vision, the joint laboratory will focus on monitoring and early warning of major transboundary pests and diseases, green pest management technologies, and capacity building for plant biosecurity. The goal is to promote the demonstration and application of China’s eco-friendly technologies and biocontrol products in Laos, and jointly contribute to a regional plant protection network.
During the visit, experts from IPPCAAS provided technical training on several priority topics, including monitoring of migratory pests, integrated pest management (IPM) for maize, surveillance and control of maize foliar diseases, and the application of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-based biopesticides. Over 20 technical staff from the Plant Protection Center participated in the training, which included hands-on demonstrations and in-depth discussions.
To support capacity development, two staff members from PPC will pursue Ph.D. studies in China this year. Additionally, three researchers will conduct three-month academic exchanges in China as part of the ongoing cooperation.
The delegation also visited rice and maize production sites near Vientiane, where they confirmed with Lao counterparts the design and schedule of upcoming IPM demonstration activities. In addition, the Chinese delegation visited the FAO Representation in Lao PDR, the Faculty of Agriculture at the National University of Laos, and the Yunnan State Farms Lao Rubber and Crop Research Center, laying the groundwork for future collaboration.
This visit marks a new stage in China-Laos cooperation in plant protection, reinforcing the joint commitment to advancing green agriculture under the Belt and Road Initiative and contributing to regional food security and biosafety.
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New progress was made for the Lao PDR – China Joint Laboratory for Plant ProtectionFrom March 17 to 22, at the invitation of the Department of Crop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) of Lao PDR, a delegation of eight experts led by Prof. Zhang Jie, Deputy Director General of the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS), visited Vientiane to advance bilateral cooperation on plant biosafety. The delegation held meetings with Mr. Bounsu Soudmaly, Deputy Director General of the Department of Agriculture, and Dr. Souliya Souvandouane, Director of the Plant Protection Center (PPC), along with other senior officials and technical staff. The two sides discussed implementation plans for several collaborative projects in Laos, including the Strategic Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Project under China’s National Key R&D Program, the Asia Cooperation Fund Project, and Phase II of the International Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (CAASTIP II). They also reviewed progress on the development of the Lao PDR-China Joint Laboratory for Plant Protection. Prof. Zhang Jie introduced the key achievements since the joint laboratory’s establishment. Dr. Souvandouane expressed appreciation for the long-term support from IPPCAAS and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation. According to the shared vision, the joint laboratory will focus on monitoring and early warning of major transboundary pests and diseases, green pest management technologies, and capacity building for plant biosecurity. The goal is to promote the demonstration and application of China’s eco-friendly technologies and biocontrol products in Laos, and jointly contribute to a regional plant protection network. During the visit, experts from IPPCAAS provided technical training on several priority topics, including monitoring of migratory pests, integrated pest management (IPM) for maize, surveillance and control of maize foliar diseases, and the application of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-based biopesticides. Over 20 technical staff from the Plant Protection Center participated in the training, which included hands-on demonstrations and in-depth discussions. To support capacity development, two staff members from PPC will pursue Ph.D. studies in China this year. Additionally, three researchers will conduct three-month academic exchanges in China as part of the ongoing cooperation. The delegation also visited rice and maize production sites near Vientiane, where they confirmed with Lao counterparts the design and schedule of upcoming IPM demonstration activities. In addition, the Chinese delegation visited the FAO Representation in Lao PDR, the Faculty of Agriculture at the National University of Laos, and the Yunnan State Farms Lao Rubber and Crop Research Center, laying the groundwork for future collaboration. This visit marks a new stage in China-Laos cooperation in plant protection, reinforcing the joint commitment to advancing green agriculture under the Belt and Road Initiative and contributing to regional food security and biosafety.
142025-04 -
Collaboration on sustainable agriculture practices highlighted at the MARA China – CABI Joint Lab meetingThe annual Steering Committee meeting of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA)-CABI Joint Laboratory for Biosafety and its subcentres reviewed work progress and discussed the strategies forward in international collaboration for a more sustainable agriculture in China and beyond. China and CABI have been working together for over four decades. In 2008, MARA, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and CABI, launched the MARA – CABI Joint Lab for Biosafety, which is being hosted by the Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS (IPPCAAS) in Beijing. This was later expanded and joined by affiliated Chinese sub-centres in Shandong, Anhui, Yunnan and Inner Mongolia as well as by a European Laboratory at CABI in Switzerland. Deepen collaboration in research and development As an annual technical and governance event, a technical advisory group (TAG) of the Joint Labs and subsequently the Steering Committee members met to review progress, plan next year activities and agree on longer-term strategies. This is aimed to deepen collaboration in research and development in agricultural science and technology that exerts local and global influence, and facilitates capacity building, exchange of experts, and knowledge sharing. During this year’s meetings in March 2025, a particular focus was put on invasive species management, the promotion of biopesticide and biological control products for large-scale application and technology transfer, pesticide risk reduction, and grassland ecological restoration and carbon sequestration. The work on low-risk pest management includes, among many others, for example, the green management of the invasive tomato leaf miner, and yellow spined bamboo locust in China and Southeast Asian countries, the potential classical biological control of fall armyworm via parasitoids in Laos and Vietnam, or stink bugs and grassland locusts in China and neighbour countries. Further, it is recognised that technical knowledge of IPPCAAS in pesticide residue monitoring and risk assessment can help CABI Member Countries such as Kenya and Ghana. This is largely through piloting national pesticide residue monitoring programmes (NPRMP) in prioritized crops, the establishment of operational and certified laboratories for pesticide residue monitoring, and others. Bridging role of Joint labs Another major focus is on the bridging role of the Joint labs in scientific and technological innovation, and triangular collaboration, which were emphasised by a number of Steering Committee Members. Dr Ulrich Kuhlmann, CABI’s Executive Director of Global Operations and Co-Director of the Joint Lab said, “The Joint Lab, European Lab and the Chinese sub-centres continue to play an important bridging role in some major triangular collaboration and South-South co-operation initiatives to tackle a range of transboundary crop pests. “Collaboration on this scale in terms of research and development, across areas of shared knowledge and expertise, is vital to sustainably manage threats faced by millions of smallholder farmers and protect the fragile ecosystems they live in.” Mrs Gou Naying, Deputy Director General, International Co-operation Department, MARA, and the newly elected Chair of the Steering Committee said, “Going forward, the China MARA-CABI Joint Lab and sub-centres should strive to deepen collaboration and scale up the impact of the Joint Lab programme, building on the success achieved during the past 3 decades since China’s accession to CABI. “Among key measures are further strengthening the capacity of the Joint Lab and sub-centres and facilitating collaboration among CABI Member Countries thus contributing to the sustainable agricultural development in China and beyond.” Professor Sun Tan, Vice President, CAAS said, “I am pleased that, together, we are making great progress through the China MARA-CABI Joint Lab platform and network, which also includes facilitation of agricultural technology transfers between China and other countries under initiatives such as the Chinese Technology Going Global’ programme. We should continue to explore opportunities to fulfil this important objective of the Joint Lab and its sub-centres.” Further highlights Further highlights of 2024 are 31 exchange visits involving 118 experts, 11 seminars reaching 688 trainees, a Chinese scientist’s secondment to the European Laboratory, and an annual IPM course for graduate students of CAAS. Moreover, 38 new plant clinics had been established totalling up to 227 clinics and having provided free crop health advice to more than 33,800 farmers as part of the global Plantwise Plus programme. There was an active involvement of the Joint Lab and sub-centres in some high level conferences including the 3rd International Congress of Biological Control (ICBC3) in Costa Rica in 2024 which was co-organized by CABI and the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC), in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica, and the University of Costa Rica. CAAS, CABI and Guandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences plan to co-organise the 2nd International Conference on Plant Biosafety in Guangzhou, China, in November 2025 which will include the celebration of the 30th anniversary of China’s membership in CABI, celebrating the successful collaboration between China and CABI, particularly through the MARA-CABI Joint Lab and its sub-centres. Members of the Steering Committee of the MARA China-CABI Joint lab for Biosafety during their strategic meeting in Beijing, on 26 March 2028. Additional information Main image: The annual Steering Committee of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA)-CABI Joint Laboratory for Biosafety, held in Beijing, on 26 March 2025.
012025-04 -
Experts from IPPCAAS Implement FAO-China South-South Cooperation Project to Advance Sustainable Fall Armyworm Management in GhanaFrom March 10 to March 13, the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Project on Sustainable Fall Armyworm Management was implemented in Accra, Ghana. The core objective of this initiative was to conduct pilot demonstrations of China’s advanced technologies in fall armyworm (FAW) monitoring and early warning, integrated pest management (IPM), and large-scale mass rearing of natural enemies in Ghana. Professor Yang Daibin, Associate Professor Zhang Tiantao, and Associate Professor Zhang Haowen from the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS), along with Professor Li Zhenyu from the Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, provided technical support for the project's implementation. A total of 50 agricultural technicians from FAO and local Ghanaian institutions participated in the training. On March 10, the opening ceremony of the training was grandly held. Dr. Maged Elkahky, FAO project lead, delivered a speech at the ceremony, providing a detailed introduction to the background, implementation details, and progress of the initiative. He emphasized that this IPM training is a key application phase of the overall project and expressed his expectation that this event would contribute to achieving the project's predetermined objectives by the end of the year. Experts from IPPCAAS conducted in-depth lectures on four key topics: predictive modeling and system development for FAW population dynamics in Africa, field trial design, mass rearing of natural enemies, and integrated pest management techniques. Through on-site visits to Ghanaian biological laboratories and demonstration fields, the participants gained a deeper understanding of FAW outbreaks in Ghana and existing gaps in control strategies. Adjustments and optimizations were made to the field trial protocols based on local conditions, and the next steps and phased tasks were clearly defined. Arnold Amppiah, the event organizer, expressed high appreciation for China's technological advancements and achievements in FAW control, stating that China’s monitoring and early warning technologies would provide valuable experience for Ghana in building a comprehensive FAW management system. Peter Ketting, Deputy Director of the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate of Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture, highly praised China’s FAW monitoring and early warning solutions, expressed gratitude to IPPCAAS experts for their contributions to the project, and conveyed confidence in the prospects for agricultural technology cooperation between China and Ghana. He looked forward to further exchanges and deeper collaboration in the future. This training effectively promoted and facilitated the implementation of the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Project on Sustainable Fall Armyworm Management in Ghana, marking an important milestone in the project's execution.
182025-03 -
Participants of the Workshop on Governance Capacity for African Countries by AIBO, MOFCOM visited IPPCAASOn March 11, participants of the Workshop on Governance Capacity for African Countries organized by Academy of International Business Officials (AIBO), visited the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS). There are a total of 36 officials from African Union Commission, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and other African countries. Prof. Zhang Jie, Deputy Director General of IPPCAAS, participated in the reception. The symposium was chaired by Tian Fang, Deputy Director of the Division of Domestic and International Cooperation of IPPCAAS. DDG Zhang Jie briefly introduced IPPCAAS in terms of scientific and technological innovation, team building and international cooperation, and particularly highlighted IPPCAAS's in-depth collaboration with African nations in agricultural biosafety, encompassing talent cultivation, platform development, securing and implementing international collaborative projects and technology/product transfer with demonstrable achievements across these strategic cooperation domains. The delegation also visited the technology and product exhibition for management of fall armyworm and other major cross-border and migratory pests and diseases. Experts from IPPCAAS gave professional explanation on the research and development background, application scenarios and prevention and control effects of technology products, so that African officials had a more intuitive understanding of China's technological innovation and application of achievements in the field of plant protection. In exchange and communication session, the members of the delegation gave enthusiastic speech and expressed their gratitude to IPPCAAS for the well-organized activities. Many of them said that they had a deep understanding of China's technical strength in the field of plant protection through this exchange activity, and looked forward to in-depth cooperation with China in the fields of pest and disease control and green agriculture development, so as to jointly ensure food safety, biological safety and ecological safety in Africa. This activity not only enhanced the communication and mutual trust between China and Africa in the field of agricultural biosafety, but also laid a solid foundation for joint research and project cooperation between the two sides in the future. More than 50 people attended the meeting, including leaders and experts from AIBO, the Center for International Agricultural Research of CAAS and IPPCAAS.
112025-03
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2025-04-14New progress was made for the Lao PDR – China Joint Laboratory for Plant ProtectionLEARN MORE
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2025-04-01Collaboration on sustainable agriculture practices highlighted at the MARA China – CABI Joint Lab meetingLEARN MORE
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2025-03-18Experts from IPPCAAS Implement FAO-China South-South Cooperation Project to Advance Sustainable Fall Armyworm Management in GhanaLEARN MORE
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