Cape Town, 12 February 2025 – The ICGEB Biopesticides Group, led by Dr. Dennis Ndolo, hosted a delegation from the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS), China. The visit focused on fostering collaboration between the two institutions.
The JAAS delegation included Prof. Yu Xiangyang, Prof. Liu Yongfeng, Prof. Liu Yuan, and Prof. Ge Jing. Dr. Luiz Zerbini, Director of the ICGEB Cape Town Component , formally welcomed the delegates and provided insights into ICGEB’s research programmes and partnership opportunities. Dr Ndolo provided an overview of the Biopesticides Group’s activities, highlighting key achievements in harmonising biopesticide registration guidelines and developing pesticide residue mitigation strategies. Dr. Lara Donaldson, Group Leader – Plant Systems Biology at ICGEB, presented her team’s work, including a collaborative project on the sorghum microbiome. Prof. Liu Yuan provided an overview of JAAS’s research activities and potential areas for collaboration.
As part of the visit, Prof. Ge Jing delivered a seminar on “Interaction between Plants and Rhizosphere Bacteria in Response to Pesticide Exposure,” offering valuable insights into the microbiome’s role in plant responses to pesticide-induced stress. The delegation also toured ICGEB’s research laboratories to gain a deeper understanding of the institute’s research facilities and technological capabilities.
A key outcome of the visit was the commitment to deepening collaboration between ICGEB and JAAS.
‘Overall, this initiative represents a significant step forward in expanding research partnerships between the two institutions, further fostering scientific exchange, and potentially accelerating the development and adoption of impactful solutions for sustainable agriculture‘ Dr Dennis Ndolo.
