University of Ghana Delegation Visits ICS-CAAS

On April 8, a five-member delegation led by Prof. Eric Danquah of the University of Ghana, Chair of the Governing Board of the Ghana National Research Fund, visited the Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICS-CAAS). The delegation was accompanied by Prof. Wang Wensheng, Deputy Director General of ICS-CAAS, and Professors Han Tianfu, Li Huihui, Li Liang, and other institute representatives.

At the meeting, the delegation heard detailed presentations on scientific and technological innovation at ICS-CAAS and research progress by African students studying at the institute. The delegation gave thematic presentations entitled “Empowering Innovation: Developing Agricultural Research Talent in Africa” and “Developing Stress-Tolerant Cassava Varieties to Support Industrial Development and Food Security.” Experts from both sides then discussed opportunities for future research collaboration. They expressed their willingness to deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation in scientific and technological innovation, product and technology development, personnel exchanges and visits, and joint postgraduate training, thereby supporting sustainable agricultural development in China and Ghana.

Prof. Wang Wensheng warmly welcomed the delegation on behalf of ICS-CAAS. He noted that Associate Professor Xu Cailong of the institute had provided technical support to Ghana’s soybean industry on multiple occasions since being appointed chief expert for the One Country One Priority Product initiative in July 2025. In addition, Dr. Enoch, a Ghanaian graduate trained at ICS-CAAS, is now a researcher at the University of Ghana. These achievements provide a sound foundation for further agricultural science and technology cooperation. He expressed the hope that the two sides would build on this foundation to pursue practical cooperation in crop germplasm exchange, new variety development, cultivation technology innovation, and agricultural personnel training, contributing to stronger bilateral relations and global food security.

During the visit, the delegation toured the National Crop Genebank and the Center for Major Research Platforms to learn more about China’s conservation and utilization of crop germplasm and its agricultural science and technology innovations.

Representatives of the Research Management Office, experts from relevant research teams, and international students at ICS-CAAS participated in the activities.