Horsham Rural City Council welcomed a Chinese delegation to the city this week, with the visitors touring Grains Innovation Park, Horsham Art Gallery and Longerenong College.

The delegation is from Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture and was led by chairman Chen Jianping.

Horsham Rural City Council has had a sister-city relationship with Nujiang since 2008. 

On Thursday, the six-person delegation visited Grains Innovation Park.

The group looked at grains chemistry, plant breeding, the Plant Phenomics Victoria site and the Australian Grains Genebank.

Australian Grains Genebank leader Sally Norton said visits like these were important in showcasing the high-class grains research being done in the Wimmera.

“It is rewarding to be able to show what we are able to do in a regional centre,” she said.

“Our research is world class.”

Dr Norton said creating links between countries was also essential in progressing research. 

“There is a mutual exchange of information and relationships develop,” she said.

“This means that we can share resources and information to achieve better outcomes for the grain industries in both countries.

“An example is Chinese pea material that has been able to be used as a potential source of frost tolerance to help breed better pea varieties for Australia.”

Horsham mayor Pam Clarke said it was great to have the delegation visit the city.

“They are really interested in agriculture and a lot of our visitors are quite focused and experienced in the industry,” she said.

Cr Clarke said the visit would strengthen the relationship between Horsham and Nujiang.

“These relationships are really important to council,” she said.

“Grains Innovation Park has so much connection with China already.”

Agriculture Victoria scientists at Grains Innovation Park run a Chinese pea breeding program.

“We send samples to China and they send samples of seeds to us, so it’s about helping each other,” Cr Clarke said. 

During their visit, the delegation also met with representatives from Longerenong College and Federation University to discuss education exchange opportunities.  

On Friday, they visited Mt Arapiles and the Horsham Art Gallery.