WorldVeg celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023, and it is making an important stride forward, to transform into an ‘Open Science Center’. Towards this aim, WorldVeg has the great honor of signing an MoU with the University of Tsukuba to strengthen collaboration in international agriculture research.

Dr Yann-rong Lin, WorldVeg Deputy Director of Partnerships, visited Tsukuba on 3 April to participate in the signing ceremony. The MoU was signed by Dr Marco Wopereis, WorldVeg Director General Dr Roland Schafleitner, WorldVeg R&D Flagship Leader; and Professor Naoya Fukuda, Director of the Tsukuba Plant Innovation Research Center; Professor Toshiyu Tanak, Dean of the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences; and Professor Kazuto Nakada, Dean of the Degree of Life and Earth Sciences. Based on current cooperation in tomato and amaranth genetics and breeding research, the MoU marks the aims of expanding activities to broader international agricultural research.

Dr Lin highlighted the plan to promote bilateral research cooperation in the future, where students from the University of Tsukuba will be more than welcome to come to WorldVeg headquarters in Taiwan for internship and research. In addition to deepening their research, this will also allow them to become more immersed in an international learning environment.