Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Science and CSIRO have held a three-day scientific forum in Canberra to discuss future research collaborations with a focus on the world's major food crops, such as wheat, rice and corn.

 

The joint research will be centred around plant genomics and improving the sustainability and disease resistance of crop plants.

 

CSIRO Plant Industry Deputy Chief, Dr John Manners, hailed the step as a positive move towards solving issues surrounding global food security.

 

"China is not only an agricultural powerhouse but also a scientific powerhouse and they face many of the challenges that we do in Australia, including drought, hostile soils and plant diseases," Dr Manners said.

 

"The research projects that we will be working on together will not only improve crops in both countries but will play an important role in the battle for global food security.”