On March 24th,representatives from a consortium of seven universities and research institutes in China and the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding to establish theChina-UK Plant Phenomics Centre in Nanjing.

The founding partners of the Centreare Nanjing Agricultural University, Huazhong Agricultural University, University of East Anglia, University of Nottingham, RothamstedResearch, Aberystwyth University and Earlham Institute.

In his remarks at the signing ceremony, NAU Vice President DingYanfeng said,“The rapidly evolving science of plant phenomics is already making substantial contributions to the body of agricultural research and its role in shaping the future of agriculture cannot be overstated.Our shared vision is that the China-UK Plant Phenomics Centrewill be a model for closer scientificcooperation between China andtheUK andthat every member institutionwill actively explore cooperation in research, education and faculty exchanges”.

Representativesat the ceremony shared Ding’s enthusiasm and looked forward to beginning their collaborative efforts as well as fostering next generationtalentinthe field of plant phenomics.