The cooperation between the United States and China has historically been marked by both mutual benefit and mutual respect. As Xi Jinping noted in a congratulatory message to President-elect Trump, both countries gain from collaboration and lose from confrontation. This relationship, which started in 1972 with the signing of the Shanghai Communiqué by President Richard Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai, has fostered a variety of exchanges, especially in the field of agriculture. These early exchanges set the stage for decades of collaboration, growing into a significant part of both countries’ agricultural and scientific success.
Agricultural exchanges between the US and China began shortly after the Shanghai Communiqué, with the first group of Chinese agricultural scientists visiting the United States in 1973. Their focus was on learning about insect control in crops, an essential aspect of agricultural productivity. This visit was followed by six more Chinese agricultural groups and five US groups traveling to China, initiating a cycle of scientific exchange that proved to be mutually beneficial. The success of these exchanges laid the groundwork for the 1979 Science and Technology (S&T) Agreement, which was signed after the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two nations. The agreement allowed for a broader framework of collaboration, including not only agriculture but also chemistry, earth sciences, environmental protection, and health.
Over the next few decades, the agricultural exchanges between the two countries focused on shared challenges like food security, climate resilience, and disease control in plants and animals. These efforts were not only academic but also practical, addressing real-world problems that affected both nations’ agricultural productivity. The two nations worked together on research related to grain, cotton, soybean, and citrus production, as well as on agricultural mechanization and pest management. These collaborations were vital for the development of more efficient agricultural practices and for addressing global challenges in food production.
One of the most significant early exchanges occurred in 1974 when a team of ten US plant scientists traveled to China. Led by Sterling Wortman, the team included Norman Borlaug, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist often referred to as the “father of the Green Revolution.” During their visit, the US scientists were amazed by China’s ability to feed its large population with limited arable land. They observed China’s independent development of its own Green Revolution, which sparked the exchange of plant materials between the two countries. This collaboration would go on to shape the future of agricultural research and technology.
By 1979, the agricultural exchanges were formalized into the US-China Agricultural Understanding. This memorandum laid the foundation for the systematic exchange of knowledge and resources between the two countries. Secretary of Agriculture Bergland played a pivotal role in garnering support for the program, and by the early 1980s, the first US agricultural scientists traveled to China. These exchanges helped China learn from the US system of research and technology transfer, particularly in pest control and seed collection, while US scientists gained valuable insights into Chinese agricultural practices and crop varieties.
The results of these exchanges were evident in both countries’ agricultural productivity. By the mid-1990s, US farmers had gained access to valuable Chinese plant material, which contributed to the development of improved crop varieties. The US also benefited from China’s natural pest control techniques, which reduced the need for chemical pesticides. Similarly, China learned valuable lessons from the US about forest conservation, grassland preservation, and other environmental concerns.
However, challenges remain in the agricultural sector. New issues, such as climate change, food safety, and the need for sustainable agricultural practices, continue to test both countries’ agricultural capabilities. In 2024, US Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack met with China’s then-Minister of Agriculture Tang Renjian to discuss restarting agricultural exchanges and collaborating on climate resilience and food security. It is clear that agricultural cooperation remains a vital part of the US-China relationship, and there is a strong case for renewing the Science and Technology Agreement to address these emerging challenges.
The US-China agricultural partnership has a long history of mutual benefit. To continue this trajectory, both countries must build on past successes and collaborate to solve the critical issues facing global agriculture. By renewing and expanding their scientific cooperation, they can ensure a future of shared progress in food security, environmental sustainability, and agricultural innovation.
