On April 27, 2022, the Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the People's Government of Shenbei New District of Shenyang jointly signed a cooperation agreement to promote the implementation of the "Black Soil & Granary" Science and Technology Program in Shenbei Agricultural Demonstration Area, where the "rice farmland soil fertility conservation and improvement Model" will be tested and applied to. Fang Yunting, deputy director of IAE, and Li Shu, deputy head of the Shenbei New District Government, signed the agreement on behalf of the two parties.

In his speech, Fang Yunting emphasized the strategic significance of the "Black Soil & Granary" Science and Technology Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He hoped that the two parties would give full play to their respective advantages, and work together to build a paradigm that makes good use of black soil to contribute to the national food security.

Li Shuzheng proposed to seize the opportunity to thoroughly implement the protection of black soil, and to propel social and economic development with ecological construction, and to promote secondary and tertiary industries with agricultural sustainable development and rural revitalization.

Researcher Chen Xin, who is in charge of the project "rice farmland soil fertility conservation and improvement Model", introduced his talk with the construction status of Shenbei agricultural demonstration area. He hoped that a series of technical plans and procedures, which can be replicated and used to make benefits in districts and regions nearby, could mobilize and encourage farmers to protect and utilize the black soil in Northeast China.

The signing of this cooperation agreement will strengthen the cooperation and exchanges between the two parties, achieve mutual benefits and win-win results, and promote the implementation of the national strategy for black soil protection.