The Evolution and Prospects of Foreign Cooperation

Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture(BIOMA) was established in 1979 and China’s only biogas national research institute, which provides scientific and technological support for development of China and International Rural Biogas as well as promotes the transformation of agricultural and rural economic development by means of biotechnology.

1 Survey

BIOMAhas been approved by China's State Council in 1979 and the Asian-Pacific Biogas Research & Training Center(BRTC) established by the government of China(GOC) and the  United Nations Development Program (UNDP) was founded in 1981, which is in purpose of holding technical training for developing countries, providing technology consulting and carrying out research cooperation and experience exchanges. And BIOMA was affirmed as Reference Center for Biogas Research and Training by Food And Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2014, providing biogas policies and technology supporting in order to sustain the new strategy of South-South cooperation.

1.1 Foreign Cooperation Process

1.1.1 International Training

BIOMA has started to undertake international trainings sponsored by Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology of China and training programs commissioned by the United Nations and other international organizations since 1990s. And BIOMA has hold 65 training courses so far, including Biogas Technology, Renewable Energy Sources, Treatment and Utilization of Agricultural Waste Treatment and Promotion for Biogas Industry Management. More than 1300 participants working on technical research, biogas management and promotion from 120 countries have taken part in the training course in BIOMA since 1980s. It is that the 30-year training course brings close bond of international cooperation between developing countries and provides an effective platform of mastering the industry development trend, exploring the technology potential and pushing forward the international cooperation.

Quality control of training course is not the only key point of management, which including teaching students in accordance with their aptitude, combining theory with practice and making sure the effective transfer of training. For example, BIOMA once has hold a program named North Korea Biogas Technology Training Course committed by U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in 2010. Before the start of training, BIOMA staff learned about the educational and work background, expected training contents and language competence of students, as well as enacted a well-developed training program and made the instructional program, brief introduction, teaching material in Korean. According to the climatic conditions of North Korea, BIOMA increased biogas construction and maintenance course in alpine region. After the training, seldom professional workers from BIOMA have been sent to North Korea and carried out a technical guidance of demonstration biogas project, successfully completing all tasks and receiving completely approve and appreciate from North Korea Administrative Department, Scientific Research Institution and ESCAP.

2. International Cooperation

2.1 North-South Cooperation

BIOMA has established a cooperative research and extensive technical exchange relations with Germany, the United States, Canada, Denmark, Japan and other countries more than 80 research institutes and enterprises since 1980s.