The International Potato Center (CIP) and China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) have reaffirmed and elevated their long-standing partnership, committing to expand scientific and technological cooperation in the tuber sector to strengthen global food security.
A high-level CIP delegation led by Director General Simon Heck, Deputy Director General Hugo Campos, and Xie Jianmin, Director of the CIP-China Center for Asia Pacific (CCCAP), met in Beijing with senior officials from MARA’s Department of International Cooperation. The discussions focused on aligning strategic priorities under CIP and CCCAP’s 2030 Strategies and identifying new pathways for collaboration across the tuber value chain.
“CIP’s four decades of collaboration with China stand as a powerful example of how international partnerships can drive agricultural innovation and food system resilience,” said Simon Heck. “We are deeply grateful for MARA’s sustained support and look forward to advancing this partnership to address urgent global challenges.”
Dr. Heck noted that CIP’s collaboration with China has demonstrated the vital role international partnerships play in advancing agricultural innovation and strengthening resilient food systems. Heck further expressed his appreciation for MARA’s continued support and CIP’s eagerness to build on this cooperation to help tackle pressing global challenges.
A 40-Year Partnership Delivering Impact
The year 2025 marked the 40th anniversary of CIP’s engagement in China, dating back to the establishment of its liaison office in 1985 and the founding of CCCAP in 2010. Over the past four decades, the partnership has generated significant achievements in tuber research and industrial development, strengthening food security and nutrition, supporting poverty reduction and rural revitalization, and advancing sustainable agricultural development across China and the Asia-Pacific region. This collaboration has also emerged as a practical model for agricultural innovation in emerging economies worldwide.
Advancing the CIP 2030 Strategy
During the talks, CIP outlined its 2030 Strategy, which is anchored in four strategic pillars: biodiversity, crop improvement, regenerative agriculture, and urban food systems. The strategy is designed to address three major global challenges, climate change, malnutrition, and food insecurity, through integrated, science-based solutions.
CCCAP will play a central role in implementing this vision. It will focus on developing climate-resilient and nutrient-rich tuber varieties while advancing green, integrated pest and disease management systems. At the same time, CCCAP will strengthen its role as a regional hub by integrating research and innovation, information exchange, technical training, and demonstration activities, while aligning its work with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Development Initiative to support high-quality agricultural development in the region.
Expanding Collaboration for Global Impact
Both parties reached a full consensus to use this meeting as a new milestone in their partnership. They agreed to deepen cooperation across the entire tuber value chain by strengthening joint research in areas such as variety breeding, green production technologies, and industrial upgrading, while also accelerating the transformation of scientific achievements into practical applications that benefit farmers and food systems.
Looking ahead, CIP and MARA will work together to enhance the resilience and sustainability of global tuber production systems.
Commitment to a Shared Future
By deepening collaboration, CIP and MARA aim to make meaningful contributions to safeguarding global food security, promoting sustainable and climate-smart agriculture, and building a more resilient and equitable global food system.
About CIP
The International Potato Center (CIP) is a research-for-development organization focused on root and tuber crops and food systems innovation to improve nutrition, livelihoods, and climate resilience worldwide.