ZJU delegation visits France and the Netherlands to promote cooperation in agriculture

Prof. HUANG Xiangfeng, Vice Chairman of the Zhejiang University Council, led a delegation to visit France and the Netherlands from June 6 to 9. They conducted bilateral talks with top universities and research institutions in both countries in a bid to further strengthen cooperation in talent cultivation and scientific research in the fields of agriculture, food, environment, life science and animal science.

On June 6, the delegation visited AgroParisTech, a leading French institute of technology for life, food and environmental sciences. They were warmly received by Director General Laurent Buisson, Deputy Director General Étienne Verrier, and the persons-in-charge of the Agronomy, Forestry, Water and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Department, the Department of Science and Engineering for Food and Bioproducts, and the Department of Life and Health Sciences. The two sides explored the possibility of promoting student exchanges, strengthening collaborative research and launching joint educational programs. 

On June 7, the delegation visited the France's National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), a world-leading research institute for agriculture, food and the environment. They held a talk with Pierre Marie, Director of International Relations, and Florent Chazarenc, Senior Researcher at REVERSAAL. The two sides shared ideas with each other on scientific research, student exchange programs, and joint PhD programs. They expected to apply for international collaborative projects and set up a Sino-French joint research platform.

On June 8, the delegation visited the Université de Lyon, an academic community gathering 11 member and 24 associated institutions in Lyon and Saint-Étienne. They talked with Frank Debouck, President of the Université de Lyon, and Cédric Colmar, Director of Partnerships, International and European Affairs at VetAgro Sup. The two sides reached an agreement to deepen cooperation in the fields of agricultural engineering, animal science and veterinary medicine.

On June 9, the delegation visited Wageningen University & Research, a university and research center in the Netherlands that focusses specifically on the theme ‘healthy food and living environment. They met with Arthur Mol, Rector Magnificus and Vice-President of Wageningen University & Research. They also had a talk with distinguished scholars in the fields of environmental science, plant science, food science, and food security. Prof. HUANG Xiangfeng proposed to join hands in addressing global challenges. Arthur Mol extended his warm welcome to the ZJU delegation and lauded the foundation and potential of cooperation between he two universities. The two sides held in-depth discussions on building disciplinary alliances, conducting joint research projects, deepening curriculum cooperation, and promoting joint educational programs. 

During the visit, ZJU’s College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science signed a course cooperation agreement with Wageningen University & Research. The delegation also introduced the ZJU’s talent recruitment and postdoctoral research policies to Chinese students at Wageningen University & Research.