Minister to strengthen agricultural ties with China
Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance will travel to China tomorrow to progress agricultural and research opportunities in Zhejiang Province.
Mr Chance said the five-day visit was an important step towards developing Western Australia’s agricultural relationship with China.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance will travel to China tomorrow to progress agricultural and research opportunities in Zhejiang Province.
Mr Chance said the five-day visit was an important step towards developing Western Australia’s agricultural relationship with China.
The Minister will sign two agreements with Zhejiang University, extending collaborative science programs.
A new joint research agreement will look at breeding barley varieties with better acid soil tolerance for WA and China. The Barley Acid Soil Tolerance project will be a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and Food and Zhejiang University, the headquarters of the China National Barley Research Centre.
Mr Chance will also visit the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) Collaborative Research Centre, where joint research with the Department of Agriculture and Food is being undertaken in mutation breeding for novel features for wheat and barley breeding.
“I will sign an International Genetic Material Transfer Agreement with the IAEA Collaborative Research Centre, to enable breeding material developed in China with WA varieties, to be received for further research and breeding by the Department of Agriculture and Food,” he said.
“The aim of the project is to identify and develop new germplasm to help breed the next generation of barley varieties which have better acid soil tolerance.”
While in Zhejiang Province, Mr Chance will visit an agricultural machinery manufacturer, the Jiangsu Zhengchang Group, to understand the trend of farm machine development in China.
“I will look especially at pelletising machinery and what other specialised technology China can offer to WA farmers,” he said.
The delegation includes Mr Chance, Department of Agriculture and Food staff and a Ministerial adviser.
Minister's Office - 9213 6700
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