The China State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (CSAFEA) is on a fact-finding mission, to learn more about UK agricultural research and development and to identify collaboration opportunities. 

The delegation visited CSAR to find out more about the aquaculture sector in Wales and the Research Centre’s areas of research expertise.

‎CSAR was founded in 2005, to develop sustainable technologies for aquatic food production in Wales and internationally. Since then it has grown rapidly and diversified its research to span fundamental questions of aquatic ecology and physiology, alongside applied technology development work.

‎‎The Research Centre, based within the University’s College of Science, is home to a modern suite of controlled environment laboratories in which a diverse range of freshwater and marine organisms such as fish, algae, shellfish and other invertebrates are grown under optimal conditions and are allied to comprehensive facilities for field sampling and laboratory analysis.

‎CSAR operates on behalf of commercial aquaculturists and fishers, technology providers and research councils. The Centre also advises governmental institutions, in the UK and internationally.

During their visit, the Chinese delegation also learned about pioneering research on agricultural pest control, being carried out by the BANP group led by Professor Tariq Butt.

Mr Hao Peng, who is leading the delegation said: “I would like to thank our hosts from Swansea University, for generously spending time on a well organised visit today. The presentations and tours were informative and generated excellent scope for research collaborations in aquaculture and agriculture. ”

Dr Robin Shields, CSAR Senior Strategic Advisor said: “It was a pleasure to host the distinguished group of Chinese aquaculture and agriculture specialists in CSAR. We held productive discussions on areas of shared interest and identified topics for future collaboration. I look forward to developing these further with Chinese colleagues in the coming months.”