New climate-smart agriculture China collaboration

The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) has been awarded $250,000 by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to lead sustainable agriculture forums in China and Australia.

The first forum will be held at Lanzhou University in Gansu Province, China, in October this year, followed by a second forum at the University of Southern Queensland in June 2025.

The program will also include site visits and meetings in key agricultural regions of China and Australia.

UniSQ Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) Professor Ren Yi said the summits and connected exchange study tours represented a significant step towards fostering innovation between Australia and China in the agriculture sector.

“The forums will serve as platforms to exchange knowledge and explore cutting-edge solutions to take on pressing challenges related to drought, climate change and sustainable agriculture,” Professor Yi said.

“Accompanying these forums will be exchange study tour programs in China and Australia, designed to engage the next generation of researchers and industry leaders from both nations in climate-smart agricultural practices.”

“We look forward to the positive impact of this initiative in driving forward sustainable agricultural practices and strengthening bilateral ties.”

UniSQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor John Bell said the University of Southern Queensland was well-placed to lead the delivery of the forums, with Agriculture and Environment one of the University’s four flagship areas.

“The forums will provide opportunities for Australian and Chinese researchers in agriculture and environmental science to understand the impacts of climate change on the dryland agricultural production areas of northern China and northern Australia and to build climate resilience in both countries,” Professor Bell said.

“It is an exciting project that will strengthen and deepen relationships between two large agricultural producers.”

The funding was facilitated by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

Australian partners include Trade & Investment Queensland, Study Queensland, Study Toowoomba, Toowoomba Surat Basin Enterprise, Toowoomba Regional Council, Queensland DAFF, Agrifutures, and Austrade.

Chinese partners include Lanzhou University, Hebei University of Economics and Business, Northwest A&F University, and the Central University of Finance and Economics.