Associate Prof. Yan Qiongxian and Prof.Tan Zhiliang visited Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), located in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand, and held in-depth discussions with international cooperation partner Dr. Pramote Paengkoum's research team during August 20 to 22. The discussions covered the current technical bottlenecks restricting the formulation of high-quality cassava feed in Thailand and the potential for promoting the application of International Partnership Program (IPP) for Grand Challenges technologies in Thai farms. Dr. Neung Teaumroong, Dean of the Institute of Agricultural Technology, and Dr. Tapany Patcharawit, Deputy Director of the center for International Affairs, had in-depth inquiry and discussions on the application of joint research projects between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Thailand, the construction of research platforms, and the exchange of graduate students. Dr. Suntorn Wittayakun, from the Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, as one of the IPP for Grand Challenges project, also participated in this activity.

During the visit, Assoc. Prof. Yan Qiongxian’s research team visited SUT Farm, Dan Khun Thot Agricultural Cooperative Co., Ltd and Phimai Dairy Cooperative Co., Ltd to gain a deep understanding of the application of cassava in the diets of local goats and dairy cows in different seasons in Thailand. They also evaluated the influence factors and regulatory paths of livestock products to meet the goal of zero hunger in Thailand. The investigation revealed that there were some problems in the formulation of cassava silage in Thailand, such as poor quality and low feed conversion efficiency for goats and cattle, which could not ensure the nutritional requirements of the rapid growth and milk production during the dry season. Prof. Tan Zhiliang analyzed the importance and urgency of local protein source feed alternative technologies, emphasized the important contribution of scientific and technological progress of animal husbandry to achieve zero hunger, and suggested that scientific and technological research and development should be further strengthened to resist the risk of nutritional hunger of cattle and goats caused by the rise in the prices of imported corn and soybean meal. Assoc.Prof. Yan Qiongxian’s team also visited the Food Engineering and Bioprocessing Technology Laboratory of Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), a member of ANSO, and had an in-depth exchange with Prof. Anil Kumar on cassava precision fermentation, protein alternative, and innovative processing technologies.

Overall, this visit to Thailand has laid a solid foundation for promoting the application of related technologies jointly supported by IPP for Grand Challenges project (Co-operative research of high-quality cassava feed and application demonstration in “Belt and Road” countries) and the ANSO project (Association of livestock breeding with zero hunger and assessment of the potential contribution of science and technology in the Belt and Road countries) in the livestock industry in Thailand. It has also deepened the sustainable research on subtropical agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and international partners (SUT and AIT), providing a solid basis for future cooperation in talent cultivation, academic exchange, research collaboration, and interdisciplinary integration and innovation.This trip fully demonstrates the complementarity of China and Southeast Asian countries in scientific research, technology promotion and application, which will help to promote the livestock cooperation and contribute to achieving the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2: Agricultural Development and Food Security).

Giving a presentation at SUT

Visiting cassava field of Dan Khun Thot Agricultural Cooperative Co., Ltd

Visiting SUT farm