Australia-China Research Centre for Crop Improvement

The Australia-China Research Centre for Crop Improvement (ACRCCI), headquartered at the University of Newcastle, aims to promote strategic collaborative research in crop science among leading Australian and Chinese Institutes. By bringing together research teams of international excellence in plant biology and breeding the Centre focuses on discovering key genes and biological processes controlling plant development and stress tolerance for innovative applications to improve food security and agricultural sustainability.

A Great Success of Federal Government Funded Group Mission
May 2013

ACRCCI has successfully undertaken the DIISRTE- funded Group Mission project entitled “Collaboration to Strengthen the Research Capabilities of ACRCCI” in early 2013. During the Group Mission, we held:

1. The 1st Australia-China Symposium on Crop Science in Hangzhou, chaired by Yong-Ling Ruan, Director, ACRCCI; Xiaoya Chen, President, SIBS, CAS and Jianping Chen, President ZAAS. The meeting attracted ~150 delegates from major institutes from both nations with 20 invited speakers, covering topics from regulation of gene expression to stress tolerance and yield formation.
2. A round table discussion in Shanghai at the Institute of Plant Physiology & Ecology (SIPPE); Shanghai Institute of Biological Sciences (SIBS) of CAS for collaboration in Plant Biology research.
3. A mini-symposium with National Key Lab of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Improvement in Nanjing Agricultural University (NAU) and discussed ways for fostering strategic collaboration between ACRCCI and the Key Lab.

The group mission has increased research profile of ACRCCI and attracted considerable interests from some top institutes for collaboration with MOU being prepared and signed between UoN and CAS and NAU. With a solid track record in winning competitive funding, publications in top journals and establishment of extensive network, ACRCCI is now well positioned to leap forward to achieve its inspirational goals in crop science research and application.