China, Pakistan launched joint wheat breeding lab

ISLAMABAD, Mar. 7. (Gwadar Pro)- China and Pakistan launched the project of China-Pakistan Joint Wheat Molecular Breeding International Lab (“Joint Lab”) last Thursday.

The joint lab project is funded by the Science and Technology Partnership Program, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, with the joint support from China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Agriculture Research Center of Pakistan and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).

The joint lab will conduct collaborative research on molecular breeding, test select Chinese germplasm in Pakistan, train scientists and organize workshops. It is expected to develop new varieties with high yield and disease resistance and enhance the capacity of breeders and technical staff so as to enhance the breeding capacity and production of wheat in Pakistan. The Joint Lab will become a wheat breeding platform between China and Pakistan to provide scientific and technological support for Pakistan’s food security.

Wheat is the largest food crop in Pakistan and continuous increase in wheat yield has become a strategic objective to ensure food security in Pakistan . China's success story in using molecular breeding technology to breed high-yielding, disease-resistant and high-quality wheat varieties will be very useful for Pakistan to increase wheat production.

The launching event was held online and offline at the Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) in Pakistan, with more than 30 scientists and researchers from both sides attending the ceremony.