Bilateral collaboration and signing of Memorandum of Understanding between NUSRI and Institute of plant protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPJAAS)

On 2 February, NUSRI SZ and IPPJAAS conducted a bilateral discussion and MOU signing ceremony for the establishment of Joint Research Laboratory on Plant Health (JRLPH). Prof. XU Guo Qin (Director of NUSRI SZ) and Prof. FANG Ji Chao (Director of IPPJAAS) inked the MOU on behalf of the two collaborating parties. The MOU signing was witnessed by Prof. TAN Eng Chye (Deputy President and Provost, NUS), Prof. YI Zhong Yi (Director, JAAS), Prof. SUN Jia Xiang (Director of Office of Foreign Affairs, JAAS), Mr. JIANG Wei Ming (Deputy Director, Science and Education Innovation District, SIP), and Ms. XIA Fang (Deputy Director, Science and Education Innovation District, SIP). The missions of JRLPH are to promote original and translational research, to facilitate the technology-to-application conversion, and to contribute to the development of modern agriculture in China.

The research areas of JPLPH include epidemiology of plant pests, natural enemy biological resources and their utilisation, the monitoring technology of plant pests and the new technology of pest-control with high performance and security. In the framework of JPLPH, NUSRI and IPPJAAS will share their research space, hardware, instrument and equipment, and joint apply for research grants in specified research areas. With the development of JPLPH, the two parties have the option to extend the scope of their collaboration by incorporating research topics such as food safety and security. 

During their visit to NUSRI SZ, the JAAS delegates also toured NUSRI SZ Research Exhibit Zone and interacted with investigators in laboratories. They were impressed with the rapid development of NUSRI SZ in the past few years. The delegates hoped to have more opportunities for mutual exchange and collaboration in the future. (By SONG Jing)