March 19, 2026 | Shenzhen, China
The International Potato Center (CIP) and the Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen (AGIS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), signed a landmark cooperation agreement in Shenzhen on March 19, 2026, establishing the CIP & AGIS-CAAS Joint Laboratory. The collaboration targets frontier research areas, including potato germplasm innovation, hybrid potato breeding, and green pest and disease management to strengthen global food security and nutrition through cuttingedge agricultural science and technology.
The laboratory was jointly inaugurated by Huang Sanwen, President of CAAS and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Simon Heck, Director General of CIP; Hugo Campos, Deputy Director General of CIP; Xie Jianmin, Director of CCCAP; Wang Guirong, Director of AGIS; and Tong Jixu, Deputy Director of AGIS. The cooperation agreement was officially signed by Simon Heck and Wang Guirong.
“Potato is a cornerstone crop for global food security, nutrition improvement, and smallholder livelihoods. China is a world leader in agricultural genomics, diploid hybrid potato breeding, and molecular breeding,” said Heck. “CIP brings globally unparalleled potato germplasm collections, an extensive international research network, and proven technology delivery systems. By combining our strengths, this partnership will accelerate the discovery, development, and scaling of breakthrough varieties and solutions, delivering stronger support for potatobased development across AsiaPacific, Africa, and the world.”
The joint initiative fully integrates complementary strengths. AGIS provides worldclass expertise in agricultural genomics, diploid hybrid breeding, and molecular breeding. CIP contributes global germplasm resources, international research partnerships, and broadreach technology dissemination systems. The two institutions will work closely to accelerate research, innovation, and the translation of high-impact potato varieties.
In recent years, CIP and AGIS have built strong cooperation, including the launch of the Global Hybrid Potato Alliance, the open sharing of the landmark variety “U Potato 1” as a global public good, and the deployment of hybrid potato technologies in Africa. These efforts advance the objectives of FAO SouthSouth Cooperation and global food security.
Going forward, the two partners will use the joint laboratory as a new platform to deepen fullchain cooperation in germplasm innovation, technology R&D, and industrial adoption. By expanding access to hybrid potato and other advanced breeding technologies, the joint initiative will enhance the resilience of global food systems, foster highquality development of the potato sector, and build a more sustainable food future for all.