I. Title of the Special Issue:

Advancing China–Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Cooperation: Innovation and Pathways

II. Guest Editor Information:

Lead Guest Editors:

l Prof. Tan Sun, Vice President, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)

l Prof. Lise Korsten, President, African Academy of Sciences (AAS)

Co-Guest Editors:

l Prof. Jianlong Xu, Institute of Crop Sciences, CAAS; Professor and PhD Supervisor; engaged in molecular design breeding of rice and discovery of stress-resistance genes; concurrently leading a related team at the Shenzhen Institute of Agricultural Genomics.

E-mail: xujianlong@caas.cn

l Prof. Yinlong Xu, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, CAAS; Professor and PhD Supervisor; Head of the Smart Meteorology and Agro-climate Resource Utilization Team; research fields include climate resources and climate change, impacts and adaptation, and agrometeorology.

E-mail: xuyinlong@caas.cn

l Prof. Qiyun Zhu, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS; Deputy Director General, Professor and PhD Supervisor; Chief Scientist of the Animal Virus Molecular Ecology Innovation Team; research fields include avian virus evolution, infection, and immunity.

E-mail: zhuqiyun@caas.cn

l Prof. Jie Zhang, Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS; Deputy Director General, Professor and PhD Supervisor; research fields include biological control and plant protection biotechnology.

E-mail: zhangjie05@caas.cn

l Dr. Jieying Bi, Agricultural Information Institute, CAAS; Associate Researcher; Director of the General Office, Center for International Agricultural Research; research fields include international poverty reduction and development.

E-mail: bijieying@caas.cn

III. Proposed Topics:

Agriculture is central to Africa’s food security, employment, and export earnings. However, African agriculture continues to face numerous challenges, including outdated breeding and cultivation technologies, low levels of agricultural inputs, insufficient mechanization, frequent natural disasters, recurring pest outbreaks, and market inefficiencies.

In contrast, China through sustained and stable investment in agricultural R&D, a robust extension system, seed industry innovation, applications of digital agriculture, and modernization of value chains has significantly enhanced agricultural productivity and driven profound rural transformation. By institutionalizing South–South cooperation and integrating the strengths of both China and Africa, there is great potential to accelerate Africa’s agricultural transformation, promote poverty reduction, and strengthen resilience to climate change.

The China–Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance (CAASTIA) was announced by President Xi Jinping at the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and jointly launched by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and the African Academy of Sciences (AAS). Through joint research, technology dissemination, and knowledge sharing, the Alliance aims to chart a practical roadmap for China–Africa technical cooperation, transforming proven technologies into scalable solutions adapted to Africa’s diverse agro-ecological zones.

This Special Issue will be launched at the First General Assembly of CAASTIA (October 26–28, 2025), serving as the first concentrated presentation of the Alliance’s academic achievements. It will summarize key outcomes of China–Africa cooperation in priority areas, showcase methodological innovations and measurable impacts, and provide a solid foundation for advancing agricultural cooperation.

The theme of the Special Issue aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG1: No Poverty, SDG2: Zero Hunger, SDG13: Climate Action, SDG17: Partnerships for the Goals), as well as continental frameworks such as the Malabo Declaration and Agenda 2063. Against this backdrop, development partners are increasingly seeking evidence-based, scalable, and verifiable agricultural solutions. The publication of this Special Issue will not only enhance the global visibility of China–Africa agricultural cooperation but also serve as an authoritative academic and policy reference for the international agricultural and development research community.

The Special Issue will focus on the following fields: joint crop breeding and adaptability trials, climate-smart tea industry management, livestock genetics and animal health, plant protection and green control, and digital extension and technology-driven poverty reduction. By systematically compiling and comparing results, the Special Issue will help deepen international scientific exchange, raise the journal’s global reputation and impact, and increase international citations.

Scope of the Special Issue (Five Core Directions):

1. Rice Technology and Food Security – Research on the adaptability of China’s hybrid rice and improved cultivation technologies in Africa; evaluation of yield improvement, farmer adoption, and contributions to regional food security.

2. Tea Sector Transformation – Research on sustainable tea cultivation, climate-smart technologies, and value chain upgrading.

3. Livestock Production and Breeding – Research on innovations in cattle and poultry, vaccines and disease prevention, and their applicability within African livestock systems.

4. Plant Protection and Green Control – Research on major pest and disease control challenges in African cropping systems, with emphasis on invasive species risk assessment, monitoring and early warning, and green prevention and control strategies; exploration of intelligent monitoring, biological control, and ecological regulation to safeguard crop health and enhance system resilience.

5. Agricultural Extension and Poverty Reduction – Analysis of institutional mechanisms, farmer training models, and digital tools in the diffusion of agricultural innovations in Africa; provision of quantitative and qualitative evidence on how agricultural technology transfer and extension promote poverty reduction, improve livelihoods, and build resilience.

IV.  Submission and Review Process:

· Call for Papers Announcement: September 2025

· Manuscript Submission Deadline: December 31, 2025

· Accept Deadline: April 30, 2026

· Publication of Special Issue: June 30, 2026

Peer Review:

· All submissions will undergo double-blind peer review by at least two external reviewers.

· The Editorial Office will oversee the review process, supported by the Guest Editors and international experts in the field.

· The review process will ensure scientific rigor, originality, and policy relevance of accepted manuscripts.

V. Submission Guidelines:

This special issue will strictly follow the editorial policy of JIA. All manuscripts must pass a rigorous peer-review process. Please format manuscripts according to the JIA journal guidelines.

All papers must be submitted online under the following link: http://www.chinaagrisci.com/Jwk_zgnykxen/EN/volumn/current.shtml. Submission titles should include the keywords "[SI_CA]" before the actual title to distinguish themselves from other submissions, e.g., “[SI_CA]_Your paper title”. This special issue will strictly follow the editorial policies of JIA. 

All manuscripts must pass the journal’s rigorous peer-review process. 

For any questions on submission, please contact Dr. Jieying Bi (bijieying@caas.cn) or Dr. Claudien Habimana Simbi (claudien@caas.cn)