The ICS- IAEA Collaborating Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Plant Mutation Breeding

The ICS- IAEA Collaborating Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Plant Mutation Breeding, under the Institute of Crop Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, was launched in November 2019. To strengthen the complementary advantages between China and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the field of nuclear radiation-induced mutation breeding and to provide technical support to developing countries, the Collaborating Centre leverages the complementary resources, technologies, talent, and networks of both ICS and IAEA to contribute to global high-quality agricultural development and food security through nuclear techniques.

By June 2025, building on the ICS-CAAS’s expertise and platform in crop nuclear radiation-induced mutation technology, the Collaborating Centre has developed three new mutant crop varieties with strong stress tolerance and high adaptability, offering effective solutions to address global climate change and enhance agricultural productivity. It has organized two regional training courses and workshops, facilitated over 20 international academic exchanges, and trained seven doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers as well as more than 30 scientific staff, actively contributing to the advancement of nuclear agricultural science and technology in developing countries.