The National Key Research and Development Program "Synergistic Technologies and Applications for Soil Carbon Sequestration and Yield Enhancement in Typical Regions with Low-Yielding Farmland (2022YFD1901600)" was launched in Beijing On Sept 10. The project was led by Prof. WANG Ligang from the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning (IARRP) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).

More than 60 core team members of the project attended the meeting. Leaders from the Department of Science, Technology and Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), the Science and Technology Management Bureau of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), and other project supervision departments, as well as project consultant experts Academician ZHOU Wei, Prof. CHEN Deli, Prof. LI Baoguo, Prof. XU Minggang, Prof. WANG Jingkuan, Director WEI Qiwen, Deputy Director LI Rong, and Certified Public Accountant (Financial Consultant) YI Weijia were present to provide guidance.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Director YI Keke from the IARRP. Secretary of the Party Committee WANG Xiufang from the IARRP delivered a opening speech.

ZHANG Junmin, deputy director general of the Science and Technology Management Bureau of the CAAS, stated that the launch of the project is the first step. All team members of the project should take it as an opportunity to carefully refine the "construction plan" and "battle plan" for project implementation. The host units of the project should strengthen their "leadership" responsibility and improve project management. FU Changliang, director of the Department of Science, Technology and Education of the MARA, emphasized that this project focuses on the food security--the "biggest issue for the country", serves the "dual carbon" target, and actively responds to climate change. The research outputs of the project can serve as a basis for proposing strategies and suggestions to relevant national departments, which is of great significance. Meanwhile, FU Changliang put forward three suggestions and requirements: firstly, further refine the task content and implementation plan; secondly, strengthen project management; thirdly, enhance a sense of responsibility.

Prof. WANG Ligang, the project leader, reported on the overall situation of the project and the implementation management plan. The project aims to address the common and difficult issues of low organic matter content and low productivity in the plow layer soil of low-yielding farmland, reveal the synergistic relationship between soil carbon sequestration and yield enhancement, explore the potential for soil carbon sequestration and yield enhancement, and carry out key technology research and development, model creation, and demonstration applications for soil carbon sequestration and yield enhancement in low-yielding farmland. This will provide technical support for the national goals of "storing grain in the land and in technology" and "carbon neutrality". Afterwards, five leaders of the sub-projects reported on the research content and implementation plan of their projects. The consultant experts provided valuable guidance and suggestions on project goals, management mechanisms, and project implementation plans. They fully affirmed the significance of the project, stated that it has a good research foundation, a high position, and profound intentions that are in line with the major strategic needs of the country. At the same time, the consultant experts suggested further strengthening the collaborative research among the five sub-projects at the project level, closely connecting the layout of key technology regional trials and intelligent decision support systems, fully exploring the synergistic relationship between soil carbon sequestration and yield enhancement, and promoting the demonstration and implementation of key innovative technologies. YI Weijia, the financial consultant expert, was invited and gave a report on the relevant requirements for the financial management of the National Key Research and Development Program projects, providing important guidance for the scientific and rational execution of project funds.

Prof. WANG Ligang, on behalf of the project team, expressed a high regard for the guidance and suggestions from the experts. Each sub-project will complete the execution and management according to the overall objectives of the project, with high standards and strict requirements, striving for breakthroughs in key innovative technologies and promoting the high-quality completion of the project.