On Dec 14, Professor William R. Horwath from the University of California, Davis was invited by the Innovation Team of Improvement and Amelioration of Soil Fertility of the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning (IARRP) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), to conduct academic exchanges and collaborative research. He delivered a presentation titled "The stability and function of soil carbon fractions: Importance of the mineral-associated organic carbon". The seminar was hosted by researcher Zhang Wenju, and more than 30 research personnel and graduate students from the institute in attendance.

During the presentation, Professor Horwath elaborated on various topics, such as iron’s role in soil organic carbon (SOC) stability, molecular insights on SOC stability , SOC fractions stability and associated microbial community, elevated CO₂ and SOC , role of metal Mo associated organic matter in N processes , and some thoughts on soil health. The discussion and exchange with the participants on relevant issues were lively and engaging.

Professor Horwath is the chairman of the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, and distinguished Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry and Soil Biogeochemist. He has long been engaged in research on nutrient cycling, ecosystem sustainability, and soil microbial ecology. He has been recognized as a scholar at the NSM/MARC Program of the California State University and has merited Award of Agricultural Research Service of the US Department of Agriculture. Professor Horwath’s research record includes over 270 peer-reviewed papers in journals such as PNAS, GCB, SBB, and BFS.