By Wang Kai

YANGLING, Jul 11 (China Economic Net) - In the latest step to deepen China-Pakistan cooperation in modern agriculture, the Belt and Road Joint Laboratory for Biological Resources and Green Smart Agriculture in Arid Regions was inaugurated on July 7 in Shaanxi Province in northwest China.

Shaanxi Provincial Belt and Road Joint Laboratory for Biological Resources and Green Smart Agriculture was unveiled during the 5th Agricultural Presidents’ Forum of SCO Countries on July 7, 2026 in Shanxi, China [Photo provided to China Economic Net]

Brought together by Northwest A&F University, the research consortium also includes the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute and Sindh Agriculture University.

According to Prof. Zhang Lixin, the Chinese director of the laboratory and a professor at Northwest A&F University, the joint platform will focus on six research areas, including germplasm resources and intelligent breeding, smart crop selection, agricultural data platforms, intelligent farming and livestock production, precision farmland management, and AI-assisted decision-making for sustainable crop production.

“In the field of germplasm resources and breeding, the initial collection of arid-region crop germplasm from countries such as Pakistan and Uzbekistan has been completed, gathering over 120 unique crop germplasm samples. A standardized germplasm resource bank has been initiated, and a preliminary breeding system combining "space-induced mutation + intelligent design" has been established. This effort has led to the development and screening of 11 new, high-quality stress-resistant germplasms and varieties suitable for South and Central Asia, including wheat, rapeseed, sesame, vegetables, and forage crops,” Zhang said.

In the field of green intelligent technology, a series of technologies—including integrated water and fertilizer systems with technical and management decision support, smart orchard production systems, an AI model for agricultural equipment, and straw biodegradation and organic fertilizer preparation—have been developed. These technologies are now being localized through parameter optimization and are beginning to be demonstrated and promoted in countries such as Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

He revealed that training programs will be developed focusing on smart agriculture and bio-health technologies for arid regions. The first training session is scheduled for the second half of 2026, inviting 12 young researchers from Belt and Road partner countries to participate. Through a combination of theoretical instruction, field practice, and site visits, the program aims to enhance training effectiveness, help cultivate skilled local researchers and technicians while strengthening local talent retention, and strengthen the research and development capabilities of local technicians.

Chinese and Pakistani researchers conducting field investigation. [Photo provided to China Economic Net]

Hafiz Saad Bin Mustafa, Principal Scientist at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, told China Economic Net that one key priority is the transfer of advanced agricultural technologies, including modern equipment such as precision seed planters, harvesting machines, inter-cultivation machinery, combine harvesters, and specialized germplasm-processing equipment. The other two important areas of cooperation are agricultural processing and capacity building through training programs for researchers.

Zhang introduced that more than ten postgraduate students from countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia have been recruited to study in the laboratory since December 2025. Two doctoral students from PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi joined the laboratory for six-month collaborative research projects. Five Chinese postgraduate students were selected to undertake field internships and needs assessments in Pakistan, and two SCI-indexed papers have been published in international journals with the joint laboratory listed as the primary affiliation.

During the conference, a monograph on biological and healthy agricultural product production technology was released, providing guidance on crop cultivation and livestock production using advanced biotechnology and production techniques. The University of Sindh and the University of Punjab in Pakistan, along with a university from Bangladesh and one from Indonesia, have formally joined the Silk Road Agricultural Education and Research Innovation Alliance to strengthen scientific and technological exchange.