Recently, a delegation led by Dr. Chen Liang, Chief of the Livestock Nutrition and Regulation Innovation Team of the Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IAS-CAAS), went to Europe (Switzerland, Austria and Ireland) for academic exchanges and cooperation discussions. During December 12th to December 20th, the delegation successively visited ETH Zurich, DSM Austria GmbH, and University College Dublin. A series of cooperation intentions were reached including non-grain feed resources development, gut health, and joint postgraduate training, laying solid foundations for further China-EU cooperation in the field of animal nutrition.
Mutian Niu, assistant professor of animal nutrition at ETH Zurich, Gerd Schatzmayr, manager of DSM Austria GmbH, Stafford Vigors, John O’Doherty and Sharleen O’Reilly, professors of University College Dublin, warmly received the delegation respectively. They extended a sincere welcome to the Chinese researchers and gave detailed introductions on ETH Zurich Agricultural Research Center AgroVet Strickhof, DSM Austria GmbH, UCD Lyons Farm and Institute of Food and Health. In response, Dr. Chen Liang introduced the history, disciplinary composition, research overview and achievements of IAS-CAAS and the State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding (SKLANF) in detail. Besides, based on previously cooperative project with DSM Austria GmbH, Dr. Chen Liang presented a report titled with “Research Progress of the New Additive Products on Livestock Growth and Gut Health” at Tulln, Austria. In Dublin, Dr. Stafford Vigors, Dr. Chen Liang and Dr. Yi Bao had a discussion on doctoral research projects of our joint training student Wei Zeou and gave targeted guidance surrounding manuscript preparation, key points of the thesis, and data analysis etc. With Dr. Sharleen O’Reilly, they also talked with the research progress on nutrition and metabolic-related diseases. Based on common research areas and good progress, both professors warmly welcome more students of IAS-CAAS to join their labs.
This visit is an important measure for IAS to implement the national agricultural science and technology international cooperation strategy. It not only fully demonstrated China's scientific research strength in the field of animal nutrition, but also built a bridge for regular exchange and cooperation between China and Europe. Further, IAS will strengthen the specific cooperation contents such as joint postgraduate training projects, joint application for scientific research projects, and personnel exchange visits. Focusing on the common interests and research field, including but not limited to efficient utilization of non-grain feed resources, gut health. IAS will work together to overcome key technical problems and provide strong scientific and technological support for the high-quality development of animal husbandry with wider international cooperations.
