An IAE-led research project focused on black soil conservation and agricultural productivity enhancement in Northeast China has passed an interim evaluation. The evaluation meeting, held on Sept 24 at the Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shenyang, Liaoning province, focused on assessing the progress and achievements of research tasks undertaken at the project's Shenyang demonstration site, one of several demonstration locations under the broader project, which is part of the CAS Strategic Priority Research Program (Class A) on Scientific and Technological Innovation for Black Soil Conservation and Utilization.

More than 30 participants attended the meeting, including members of the expert panel, representatives of the program management office, IAE's leadership, and officials from its Science and Technology Division, which oversees the project, as well as members of the research teams. The expert panel was chaired by WEI Dan, a researcher at the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences.

JIA Zhongjun, chief engineer of the program management office, and WU Haitao, Party secretary of IAE, delivered opening remarks on behalf of the program management office and IAE, respectively. WU Bo, head of of IAE's Science and Technology Division, chaired the meeting.

During the performance evaluation, project chief scientist ZHANG Lili outlined the project's background, overall objectives, research priorities and progress, highlighting the importance of the Shenyang demonstration site and summarizing the project's achievements.

Four research teams subsequently presented their findings, covering key aspects of black soil conservation and agricultural productivity enhancement. ZHANG Xudong, ZHANG Lili, CHEN Xin, and LU Caiyan reported on models for soil conservation and productivity enhancement in dryland farming; wind erosion control and water-saving agricultural practices; soil fertility conservation and quality improvement in paddy fields; and integrated monitoring of multiple environmental and agricultural factors, together with the evaluation of technology applications at the Shenyang demonstration site.

Following a review of the presentations and supporting documentation, the expert panel positively assessed the project's research progress and achievements and unanimously approved its comprehensive performance evaluation. The experts also recommended further developing the research outcomes, improving the organization and documentation of research data, and promoting the practical application and wider dissemination of the project's findings.

In her closing remarks, ZHANG Lili thanked all project team members for their contributions, partner institutions for their cooperation, IAE's leadership for its support, and the expert panel for its valuable guidance. She said the project team would carefully address the experts' recommendations, improve the presentation of its research achievements, and further organize and supplement the supporting data to ensure the successful completion of the project's remaining work.

Figure 1. Experts and project participants attend the comprehensive performance evaluation meeting in Shenyang.