Education
AfricaRice strengthens partnerships with Chinese research institutes to accelerate continent’s rice innovation – EnviroNews
– Advertisement –
In a significant step forward in international collaboration on rice research, a delegation from the Africa Rice Centre (AfricaRice), led by its Director General, Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, recently carried out an official mission to China. He met with five of the country’s largest agricultural research institutes, which resulted in the signing of cooperation agreements, the definition of concrete roadmaps for joint research and a major scientific breakthrough.
Signing Ceremony I: AfricaRice and HNAAS formalise their strategic partnership
The first major milestone of this mission took place on May 27, 2026, when AfricaRice and the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (HNAAS) signed a strategic cooperation agreement at an official ceremony attended by senior representatives of the two institutions. The agreement was signed by Dr. Baboucarr Manneh on behalf of AfricaRice and Professor Yu Yinghong, President of HNAAS, on behalf of the Academy.
HNAAS is one of the most prestigious agricultural research organisations of China, of which the Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Centre (HHRRC) is a key subsidiary. HNAAS brings deep expertise in hybrid rice breeding, molecular genetics and technology dissemination to this partnership. The agreement establishes a long-term framework for joint research, researcher exchanges and capacity building, with the HHRRC designated as the lead unit for the implementation of cooperation activities between AfricaRice and HNAAS.
Signing Ceremony II: AfricaRice and CNRRI create a joint laboratory dedicated to rice research and innovation
A second major milestone was reached on May 30, when AfricaRice and the China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI) held a signing ceremony to formalise their cooperation agreement on the creation of a joint laboratory dedicated to rice research and innovation. This agreement, signed by Dr. Jiang Renhua, Director General of the CNRRI, and Dr. Baboucarr Manneh on behalf of AfricaRice, took place in the presence of officials of the two institutes as well as representatives of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and leaders of the “Clonal Rice” project.
The CNRRI is the main national research programme dedicated to rice; it manages China’s National Rice Gene Bank as well as a nationwide research network covering breeding, quality control and cropping systems, making it one of the country’s leading rice research institutes. The framework of this joint laboratory creates a platform dedicated to collaborative research, technology transfer and capacity building the initial focus is on accelerating the transition of African rice production systems to high-efficiency irrigated systems, supported by mechanisation and modern breeding tools.
Fruitful discussions were also held with the Shanghai Agrobiological Centre (SAGC) and the Zhejiang University of Agriculture and Forestry (ZAFU), both of which showed strong interest in establishing formal partnerships with AfricaRice. Priority areas identified include the exchange of genetic resources, the evaluation of improved varieties under African conditions, rice processing technologies, mechanisation and applications of renewable energies in agriculture.
Science at the heart of the debate: HHRRC Symposium
During a dedicated scientific symposium held with the Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center (HHRRC), a globally recognised hub for hybrid rice innovation, research teams from both institutions explored the co-development of technologies adapted to Africa’s specific production challenges. Discussions focused on third-generation hybrid rice breeding systems, based on male sterility induced by gene editing, molecular breeding and the identification of continent-wide innovations. The two sides agreed to align their selection priorities and develop training roadmap African researchers at the master’s, doctoral and post-doctoral levels.
A breakthrough for the future of rice seed systems
The mission concluded with the 2026 annual meeting of the Gates Foundation-funded Clonal Rice Project, which brought together international partners to review scientific advances toward a transformative goal: rice varieties that maintain high hybrid performance over successive generations, which would save rice farmers from having to buy new seeds each season.
This third step marked a historic breakthrough for the “Clonal Rice” project: two hybrids developed by AfricaRice were successfully gene edited, without any trace of foreign DNA. This breakthrough is a critical proof of concept on the path to commercialisation of clonal rice and has significant implications for the sustainability of seed systems, food security, and farmer empowerment across Africa.
Dr. Manneh congratulated the research teams on the speed of their progress, stressing that “strengthening international partnerships will play a critical role in the development of innovative technologies aimed at improving productivity, enhancing food security and reducing Africa’s dependence on rice imports”.
