At the invitation of the Taoyuan Agro-ecological Research Station, Professor Laurent Philippot, a 2025 CAS President's International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) Distinguished Scientist from the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), visited the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISA-CAS) from August 23 to 29, 2025, for a series of collaborative academic exchanges.

Prior to his arrival at ISA-CAS, Professor Philippot initiated his visit in China with productive discussions at the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences (August 16–20) and the Institute of Soil Science (August 21–22). These sessions focused on critical issues, including soil microbial functions, nitrogen cycling, and strategies for greenhouse gas emission reduction, while facilitating valuable sharing of expertise in microbiome research and international cooperation.

Professor Philippot’s visit to ISA-CAS began with his participation in the international forum “Soil Microbiome and Sustainable Agriculture” on August 24. Professor Hongsong Chen, director of the Institute, commenced the event by presenting Professor Philippot with his PIFI Distinguished Scholar certificate. Professor Philippot then delivered a keynote lecture, “Unraveling Below-Ground Microbe-Microbe Interactions”, where he systematically elucidated the mechanisms and agricultural significance of microbial interactions, inspiring enthusiastic discussions among attendees.

Deepening his engagement, Professor Philippot visited the Taoyuan Agro-ecological Research Station the following day. He interacted closely with researchers and graduate students, gaining insights into its long-term ecological monitoring programs and advances in management. This fostered a productive exchange of perspectives on cutting-edge methodologies in nitrogen cycling, greenhouse gas monitoring, and soil microbiology.

Later, on August 28, Professor Philippot delivered a specialized lecture entitled “From Microbial Community Ecology to Greenhouse Gases: Understanding N₂O Emissions.” The presentation provided a deep dive into the microbial drivers of nitrous oxide emissions and explored potential mitigation strategies.

Throughout his stay, Professor Philippot actively participated in several seminars with faculty and students, offering expert guidance on research design, data analysis, and high-impact scientific writing, as well as sharing his experiences in international collaboration and the publication process.

This highly productive visit has significantly strengthened the collaboration between INRAE and ISA-CAS in the critical fields of soil microbial ecology and carbon-nitrogen cycling. It lays a solid foundation for future joint research initiatives aimed at addressing global challenges in greenhouse gas emission reduction and sustainable agricultural development.

Director Chen Hongsong of the Subtropical Institute presented Professor Laurent Philippot with the PIFI Distinguished Scholar Certificate

Group Photo of Participants at the International Forum “Soil Microbiome and Sustainable Agriculture”

Group Photo of Participants at the International Forum “Soil Microbiome and Sustainable Agriculture”

Professor Laurent Philippot visited the National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station for Farmland Ecosystems in Taoyuan, Hunan Province