Through more than 10 years of cooperation, China-Canada oat research projects have achived major progress. In November 2008, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture released a national agricultural strategic plan called the ”Modern Agricultural Innovation and Technology Making System” which includes 50 agri-producers development national projects, oat being one of them. Dr. Changzhong Ren, President of the Jilin Baicheng Academy of Agriculture Science, Director of the China-Canada Science and Innovation Centre of Oats, Baicheng, Jilin, was nominated as the Chief Scientist of the national oat project. The oat project is being funded 45 million RMB for 5 years from 2008-2012 which is being shared with nine (9) academic institutions and universities and huit (8) regional experimental stations. The nine (9) academic institutions and universities are the Northwest A&F University, Inner Mongolia Agriculture University, Gansu Agriculture University, China Academy of Agriculture Science, Heibei Academy of Agriculture Science, Inner Mongolia Academy of Agriculture Science, Hebei High Latitute Academy of Agriculture Science, Shanxi Academy of Agriculture Science, as well as the Jilin Baicheng Academy of Agriculture Science. Nine leading scientists from the nine (9) academic institutions and universities and eight directors from the regional experimental stations were selected by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture (MOA). According to the project plan, each leading scientist will obtain a founding of 0.7 million RMB per year. The research areas include breeding, plant mangement, processing and intergrate utilization. The funding for each station director is 0.3 million RMB per year, and will be use to carry out the plant management and demonstration sites. The whole research project will focus on the demonstration and development of the oat breeding, plant management and utilization.
Dr. Ren , the chief scientist, is not only taking responsability for the mangement of the project, but is also in charge of the breeding of short maturity, salt tolerant and other varieties.
AAFC scientists are actively participating in this oat project. The China-Canada Science and Innovation Center on Oats has proposed detailed cooperation areas covering breeding, plant management, harvest and innovation. AAFC is one of the our most important international cooperation partners.