CU hosts ag delegation from China and will host another in July

In the Dean's Garden at Warren Hall, with Cornell's Norman Scott, vice president for research and advanced studies (seated, center) and James Haldeman, director of the International Agriculture Program (standing, center), are Chinese officials, from left standing: Xiang Zhonghuai, president of Southwest Agricultural University; Liu Changjiang, president of Shenyang Agricultural University; Zhai Huqu, president of Nanjing Agricultural University and Zhou Xiaogui, Department of Education; and seated: Cheng Xu, Ministry of Agriculture; and Jiang Shuren, vice president of China Agricultural University. Charles Harrington/University Photography

By Blaine P. Friedlander Jr.

Cornell's International Agriculture Program (IAP) and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will host a delegation of 25 agriculture officials from the People's Republic of China July 20 to 23 in Ithaca for a workshop to discuss sharing information about plants, animals, human health and food security.

Another delegation from China visited campus last week.

"We are jointly trying to understand the agriculture issues that affect both countries," said James Haldeman, director of the IAP and one of the organizers of both visits.

Six Chinese agricultural education officials met with selected Cornell faculty on campus in Ithaca and at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, May 5 through May 8, to discuss genetics, plant breeding, biotechnology, food science, plant protection, the reduction of pesticide use and environmental protection. The group also met with selected administrators to learn about Cornell's teaching, research and extension programs.

"The Chinese delegation wanted to learn about our university and cooperative extension system so that they can benefit from our experience, and to find out if there are some principles we implement that they can adapt to their situation," Haldeman said.

Last October a Cornell delegation, which included Norman Scott, vice president for research and advanced studies, and Daryl Lund, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, went to China and joined with several Chinese government agencies to begin planning strategies. The meetings produced a memorandum of understanding that Cornell will work with the Chinese in plant breeding and plant protection, nutrient management, land and water management, developing post-harvest technologies, food security, trade and marketing systems, animal production systems and transgenic plant development. Cornell also will work in Jiangsu Province of China to develop a pilot program for education, extension and research.

The concern in the People's Republic of China is that, with its population expected to reach 1.6 billion people in 2030, there is a correlative need for food production increases of 150 to 260 millions tons annually, which is an increase of more than 50 percent over the country's 1990 agricultural productivity. Agriculturists from both the United States and China are starting now to plan for and to ensure those production increases. At the same time, there is an agricultural plan to increase farmer's income in China, alleviate poverty and increase education for 65 million Chinese children, said Haldeman.

The delegation from China that visited Cornell last week, all specialists in different agricultural and scientific fields, included: Cheng Xu, director general, Department of Education, Ministry of Agriculture; Liu Changjiang, president, Shenyang Agricultural University; Jiang Shuren, vice president, China Agricultural University; Zhai Huqu, president, Nanjing Agricultural University; Xiang Zhonghuai, president, Southwest Agricultural University; and Zhou Xiaogui, program official, Foreign Affairs Division, Department of Education.

Haldeman explained that the week's meetings were helpful in laying the foundation for future agricultural cooperation. "They wanted to understand how Cornell is organized and how our agricultural research is funded," he said. "It was an excellent opportunity to meet with our scientists, and vice versa. It was an excellent opportunity for both countries."