2:51 p.m., Aug. 20, 2009----For farmers, agricultural researchers and policymakers in China, the challenge of the 21st century is to find ways to continue increasing the nation's food production to meet the demands of a growing population, while taking steps to protect the environment.

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That was the assessment of Fusuo Zhang, dean of the College of Resources and Environmental Science at the Chinese Agricultural University (CAU), who spoke at the University of Delaware on Wednesday, Aug. 19, during a workshop on agricultural and environmental sciences. The workshop was offered jointly by UD, CAU and the New Bolton Center of the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary school, which all have signed agreements to participate in a variety of collaborative research and exchange activities.

The collaboration began slightly more than a year ago, when Tom Sims, T.A. Baker Professor of Soil and Environmental Chemistry and associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UD, was invited to speak at a conference held at CAU in Beijing. At the time, he and CAU faculty began discussing ways the institutions could work together, which led to the partnership agreement. This year, for example, Fanghao Wang, who studies nutrient management in animal production, is serving as a visiting scholar from CAU, conducting research at UD and the nearby New Bolton Center.

“I came here to follow up on the agreement,” Wang said. “I'm excited about our arrangements. Dr. Sims has put a lot of hard work into making this partnership a success.”

Wednesday's workshop was part of a weeklong visit to Delaware by Zhang and four other CAU scientists, who also are traveling to other parts of the U.S. They came to UD to meet faculty members personally and explore the possibility of future collaborative research projects and exchange programs involving both faculty and graduate students.

The group spent Monday at the New Bolton Center and Tuesday touring several agricultural operations in Delaware, including a farm that raises grain, vegetables and fruits; a plant that produces organic fertilizer pellets from poultry manure; the University's Carvel Research and Education Center in Georgetown; and a crop and poultry farm in Sussex County.

Wednesday's workshop included talks by other CAU researchers and faculty from UD and Delaware State University. In Zhang's keynote speech, he outlined the history of farming in China and the need to continue increasing productivity in a country where virtually all farmland is already in use.

“We must increase crop yield, soil productivity and nutrient use efficiency while protecting the environment,” he said, advocating policy changes to provide more support for research and outreach to working farmers. “This is a great challenge for China.”

Sims said the three institutions involved in the workshop are discussing holding a similar conference at CAU, as well as other joint activities. “Meeting face to face, getting to know each other and talking in person about our work is very important to building this partnership,” he said.

Article by Ann Manser