2018 Annual Evaluation Report of CIMMYT-China Specialty Maize Research Center was made in Fengpu Campus of Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences on January 25, 2019. 

Chief scientist of the National Corn Industrial System, deputy director of the Institute of Crop Sciences Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, prof. Li Xinhai, senior scientist of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), dr. Yunbi Xu, Shanghai Municipal People's Government Counselor Aizhong Wu, Shanghai Agricultural and Rural Committee Plantation Office Director Zhengrong Lu, deputy director of the Science and Technology Education Department Jilin Tian, deputy director of the International Cooperation Department Chunlai He, director of Shanghai Agricultural Science and Technology Service Center Peihong Liu, secretary of the Party Committee and president of SAAS, Youming Cai, and secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission Naishan Wu attended the meeting. Prof. Tan Qi, vice president of SAAS and director of the CCSMRC hosted the meeting.

Prof. Hongjian Zheng, executive deputy director of CCSMRC, summarized the research layout and work progress since the establishment of CCSMRC. In 2018, the research center made positive progress in scientific research, scientific and technological services, open communication, personnel training system construction. In 2019, the research center will focus on upgrading the development requirements of the fresh corn industry, focus on improving scientific research and innovation capabilities, industrial support capabilities and talent training capabilities, provide strong support for Shanghai rural revitalization, strengthen international cooperation and exchanges, and actively participate in the national “Belt and Road” construction.

The leaders and experts of the conference fully affirmed the work of the research center and put forward opinions and suggestions for future development. It is hoped that the research center will use the international platform of CIMMYT to actively strive for the “Belt and Road” project at the national level, expand the scope of variety promotion, focus on the layout of nutrition, health and green development requirements, focus on characteristics, brands, and promote the whole industry chain development of fresh corn.

Prof. Xinhai Li pointed out that since the establishment of the research center, it has achieved remarkable results in terms of improving its conditional capabilities, scientific research innovation, and transformation of achievements, and had become the highlight of the decentralization process of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). It also provided support services for the improvement of China's maize industry capacity. Li suggested that, first, it was necessary to focus on the major needs of the maize industry, to clarify the target of major varieties, and to conduct research on the development of major varieties. Second, to learn from the experience of international organizations, to form a platform for germplasm improvement and innovation, and to create a research center. The corn germplasm contributes to the development of China's specialty maize industry. Third, it must face the main battlefield of regional construction, the development of the research center should be combined with the industry, and the tasks of each stage of the research center should be planned from a strategic perspective. The team would strengthen international and domestic cooperation to achieve open sharing of germplasm resources and genetic information.

President Youming Cai made a speech. He concluded that in 2018, the CCSMRC completed the development layout and positioning and started well. For the future development of the research center, Cai requested that: first, the research center should further clarify the development orientation, focus on the research content, highlight the depth and characteristics of the specialty corn research; second, aim at the consumer market of Shanghai's mega-cities, introduce innovative product types, focus on industrial development requirements, and promote short-term goals and long-term development goals in phases; third, basic research should focus on parental matching, industrial needs, and set up tasks to highlight new germplasm creation; fourth, the research center should realize collaborative innovation through large collaboration and build a network and platform for digital agriculture. Fifth, it should be guided by goals and results, strengthen team and individual assessment, create conditions to introduce postdoctoral researchers, do a good job in talent reserve, and turn scientific research and technology management into a collective action plan.

 More than 30 experts and leaders in General Office, Organization and Personnel Division, Research Administration Division, Planning and Finance Division, Administrative Divison and Crop Breeding and Cultivation Research Institute attended the meeting.