The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has officially approved the establishment of IAEA-Zhejiang University Cooperation Center of Plant Germ Plasm Mutation Innovation and Development at Zhejiang University. This is the only cooperation center the IAEA has set up in China and the first of ten such centers the IAEA is about to set up worldwide.

As learned the center would be engaged in the R&D of topics such as the identification and isolation of mutated crops, the effect of efficiency of directed mutagenesis and radiation on the genes of rice, the role of new mutagenesis technologies in the production of hybrid rice and the function of mutation technology in improving crops quality etc.

In a bid to promote the peaceful application of atomic sciences the IAEA officially started the cooperation center program drawing experience from the World Health Organization and UN Food and Agriculture Organization. With the approval of director-general the IAEA would set up ten cooperation centers engaged in different research areas. Zhejiang University is eminent among many applicants with its traditional advantages in nuclear agricultural studies and became the first R&D partner of the IAEA in the world.