Ohio State College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) has a long history of engagement with China dating back to 1989, when the College initiated its first education abroad program with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS). The China Gateway was established in Shanghai in 2010 with support from the U.S. Department of State, and builds upon Ohio State's long-standing partnerships and strategic engagement with China. The Gateway serves as a mini embassy for Ohio State to foster connections and facilitate opportunities for students, researchers, alumni and partner.
Key Initiative: Scientific Cooperation Exchange Program (SCEP)
The SCEP program is supported by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and seeks to promote U.S. agricultural priorities, encourage long-term cooperation in agricultural science and technology, create a positive atmosphere for agricultural trade, and enhance overall relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. Since 1979, the program has facilitated exchanges for more than 3,000 participants on topics including food safety and security, animal and plant health, and agricultural biotechnology and emerging technologies. By helping U.S. and Chinese companies understand each others' products and needs, the program provides an avenue through which U.S. agricultural exports can play a role in the burgeoning Chinese economy.
Ohio State has participated in the SCEP program for the past serveral years by hosting delegations focused on sustainable plant protection (2012), agricultural extension administration (2014), small farm management (2015), farm land preservation (2016), and crop rotations and sustainable agriculture (2017).