Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences Visit ICGEB Cape Town
Cape Town, 29th of May 2026 – The ICGEB Cape Town Biopesticides and Plant Systems Biology Groups welcomed a delegation from the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS), China, led by Prof. Wang Kehua, Vice President and Secretary of the CPC Party Committee of JAAS.
The JAAS visit provided an opportunity for scientists from both institutions to explore areas of common interest and discuss future collaboration in agricultural biotechnology, sustainable crop production and food security.
Dr Luiz Zerbini, Director of the ICGEB Cape Town Component, formally welcomed the delegation and provided an overview of ICGEB’s research programmes and international partnership opportunities. This was followed by a series of scientific presentations that showcased the complementary research strengths of the two institutions.
Dr Dennis Ndolo presented the work of the ICGEB Biopesticides Group, including initiatives to strengthen regulatory frameworks for biological products and support their integration into Integrated Pest Management programmes, while Dr Lara Donaldson, Group Leader of the ICGEB Plant Systems Biology Group, presented her team’s research on plant stress adaptation and crop resilience.
The JAAS delegation also shared insights into its research activities through presentations by Prof. Zhao Han, Director of the Institute of Germplasm Resources and Biotechnology, and Prof. Chen Jian of the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition. Their presentations showcased advances they have made towards crop improvement, genetic resource utilisation and agro-product security, further underscoring the strong alignment between the research priorities of ICGEB and JAAS.
A key outcome of the engagement, which included a tour of the ICGEB laboratories, was a shared commitment to strengthening scientific links between ICGEB and JAAS through collaborative research, knowledge exchange and future partnership initiatives.
“The discussions highlighted the strong complementarity between our research programmes and the opportunities for meaningful collaboration. We look forward to building on these interactions and translating them into joint initiatives that will enable our institutions to work together to develop innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture and food security,” said Dr Dennis Ndolo.
