CIAT receives international science and technology cooperation award from Hainan, China
The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), a part of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, and other scientific and technical organizations were honored by the Provincial government of Hainan, China, in September 2020. The International Science and Technology Cooperation Award of Hainan Province recognizes CIAT’s collaborative work with the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) to drive innovation in tropical agriculture in the province.
This award recognizes the longstanding relationship of 38 years between CATAS and CIAT, especially in the work that led to the development of cassava and tropical forages.
The Alliance is honored to be receiving this award, which was made possible through its collaboration with CATAS. Dr. Stephan Weise, Managing Director of the Alliance in Asia, said, “This encourages our scientists to strengthen and forge the partnership with CATAS scientists to find research-based solutions that agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems in the tropics.”
The partnership between CATAS and CIAT, now the Alliance, brings an excellent opportunity to strengthen agricultural development in Hainan. Ms. XIE Jing, Director General of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Hainan, says that through this recognition, more researchers are exposed to a mix of local and international expertise in agriculture, which makes this a platform that can boost Hainan’s tropical agriculture development. The DOST in Hainan looks forward to closer cooperation that will promote the construction of the province’s Free Trade Port and highlight Hainan’s modern agriculture development.
CIAT and CATAS in the field to work on tropical forages
As a longtime partner, CATAS Vice President for International Cooperation Dr. Liu Guodao expressed, “this award promotes CATAS and [the Alliance] ‘s influence in China and around the world. It will encourage more collaborative work between CATAS and CIAT on tropical agriculture.” Furthermore, Dr. Liu also shared the idea of developing a collaboration platform between the Alliance and CATAS, allowing for smoother and stronger engagement towards more significant impact not only in Hainan and China but also in the Asia-Pacific region.
Finally, Dr. Weise adds that the Alliance views the joint expertise among experts in the Alliance, CATAS, and experts in Hainan as a step into building new partnerships not just in Hainan but in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.