24 May 2023, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Liu Hua, Deputy Director General of IAEA, visited the ICS-IAEA Collaborating Center for Nuclear Techniques in Plant Mutation Breeding, National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences (ICS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).

Chief Scientist, Executive Director General of ICS, Prof. Luxiang Liu, provided a detailed introduction on the achievements and progresses of new technologies and methods for nuclear irradiation mutagenesis, the development of wheat mutant libraries, the dissemination and promotion of new wheat mutant varieties, leading IAEA/RCA Projects on plant mutation breeding, undertaking regional and inter-regional training courses and scientific visited on plant mutagenesis in recent years.

Grossi highly recognized the outstanding achievements of China in leading plant mutation breeding in the Asia Pacific region in a long time. He pointed out that mutation breeding is an important branch of peaceful use of nuclear technology and an effective way to address major challenges such as global climate change and food security. IAEA will continue to support the development of plant mutation breeding, leverage the advantages and potential of nuclear technology in agriculture, and promote regional food security.

Deng Ge, Secretary General of China Atomic Energy Agency, Liu Guanghui, Permanent Counselor to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, and Zhai Lin, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Bureau of CAAS, accompanied the visit.