This new initiative will ensure concrete, substantial and balanced joint research and innovation cooperation activities on selected priorities of common interest. It was announced during the 1st EU-China Innovation Cooperation Dialogue (see joint statement ).
This Letter of Intent was signed on the European Commission side by: D. Cioloş responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development; M. Geoghegan-Quinn, in charge of Research, Innovation and Science; T. Borg responsible for Health; and J. Potocnik in charge of the Environment. On the Chinese side, it was signed by Li Jiayang, President of the CAAS and Vice-Minister of Agriculture.
The Letter of Intent will pave the way for an ambitious strategic long-term partnership in the fields of Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology, building on the long-standing EU-China research and innovation cooperation, within the overall context of the Scientific & Technological Cooperation Agreement.
Under the terms of the Letter of Intent, the EU and China will:
- Harness their respective Research and Innovation Programmes (EU Horizon 2020 and ASTIP - Chinese Agricultural Science and Innovation Programme) to increase funding and improve mechanisms for cooperation;
- Design and implement joint and coordinated research programmes and support joint collaborative research projects and activities based on identified common challenges and shared objectives;
- Reinforce their position of searching for innovative solutions to address the common challenges of global food security, quality and safety and help in finding a sustainable model of agriculture, developing a sound bio-economy and, ultimately, improving their trade relations;
- Work on the following priority areas of common interest:
- food related science including food waste,
- sustainable agriculture, including integrated pest management and bio-control, low-input and organic farming systems, water and soil management,
- animal health and sustainable livestock production systems,
- urban agriculture to contribute through urban greening to the Urbanization Partnership,
- biotechnology, including new sources of biomass.
Source: ag-press.eu
