BGI Group and Uganda National Agricultural Research Organization Sign Cooperation MoU, China–Africa Agricultural Cooperation Reaches a New Milestone

On October 22, 2024, BGI Group and the Uganda National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the National Crops Resources Research Institute of Uganda. The China–Africa Perennial Rice Technology Cooperation Center and the BGI–NARO Center of Excellence for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Livestock were officially inaugurated, marking a new milestone in China–Africa cooperation in agricultural research.

At the event, witnessed by Zhang Lizhong, Chinese Ambassador to Uganda; Dr. William Mukani, Chairperson of the NARO Governing Council; Liu Xiaoming, Counsellor of the Chinese Mission to the African Union; and Dr. Beatrice Egulu, representative of the African Union, Dr. Yona Baguma, Director General of NARO, and Dr. Yin Ye, CEO of BGI Group, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions. The attending guests jointly unveiled the China–Africa Perennial Rice Technology Cooperation Center and the BGI–NARO Center of Excellence for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Livestock.

Ambassador Zhang Lizhong highlighted the fruitful outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation and the positive progress achieved in China–Uganda agricultural collaboration. He expressed hope that both sides would seize the opportunity presented by the successful summit to strengthen alignment of development strategies and jointly advance the implementation of the “Ten Partnership Actions” for modernization.

Counsellor Liu Xiaoming stated that China will fully implement the outcomes proposed by President Xi Jinping at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation, including the “Partnership Action for Agricultural Development and People’s Well-being.” China will support Africa in eliminating hunger, achieving food security, and promoting sustainable agricultural development, while working with partners to disseminate advanced and appropriate agricultural technologies such as perennial rice, contributing to Africa’s agricultural modernization and building an all-weather China–Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Currently, perennial rice has been incorporated into the agricultural technology promotion framework of the Fifth Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture of the African Union and included in the AU Seed and Biotechnology Program for 2024–2025. Dr. Beatrice Egulu, AU representative, noted that perennial rice technology has been implemented and promoted in Uganda, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, and Kenya with encouraging results. The partnership between BGI Group and NARO will catalyze new advances in agricultural research and contribute to the realization of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

As an agency under Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, NARO is responsible for agricultural research covering crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry, agricultural machinery, natural resources, and socioeconomics. Dr. Yona Baguma stated that the signing of the MoU will further deepen cooperation between Uganda and China in the field of perennial rice, helping position Uganda as a leading country for perennial rice cultivation in Africa.

The establishment of the BGI–NARO Center of Excellence for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Livestock is the first agricultural project launched in Uganda following the Beijing Summit in September. Dr. Yin Ye, CEO of BGI Group, said that the center will further promote the cultivation of perennial rice in Uganda, support research in agriculture, fisheries, and livestock, and provide more training opportunities for Ugandan talent, especially the younger generation.

Dr. William Mukani, Chairperson of the NARO Governing Council, noted that Uganda is the first country outside Asia to release perennial rice varieties, underscoring its leadership in this field in Africa. He also emphasized the advantages of perennial crops over annual crops, including maintaining ecosystem functions, improving productivity, increasing nitrogen retention and soil carbon sequestration, and enhancing labor efficiency and soil quality.

At the site, Dr. Yin Ye personally planted a jackfruit sapling on Ugandan soil, symbolizing BGI Group’s long-term commitment to developing smart agriculture in Uganda. He expressed hope that perennial rice will be widely cultivated across the country, bringing abundant harvests and joy to local farmers.

This signing and inauguration will further deepen China–Africa cooperation in agricultural science and technology. Both sides look forward to jointly promoting agricultural innovation, improving productivity, and contributing to solutions for global food security.