During the recent state visit to China by Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi, both countries reached new cooperation agreements in the field of agricultural biotechnology innovation, deepening their collaboration towards closer integration.
China is the world's largest consumer of livestock and forage products and is accelerating the diversification of its import sources for such products. Uruguay, with its rich agricultural and livestock resources, has been a fundamental partner in this process.
In this context, Qingdao Agricultural University, the Chinese company Vland Biotech, Uruguay's National Agricultural Research Institute, and the Uruguayan company Reevolution signed an agreement to establish a joint laboratory for livestock and pasture farming.
According to reports, the joint laboratory will focus on the development of key technologies in areas such as grass seed innovation, smart livestock farming, precise disease prevention and control, and the development of high-quality dairy and meat products based on pastures.
Additionally, the introduction of high-quality phytogenetic and zoogenetic resources will be promoted, and agricultural and livestock innovation and development will be encouraged in collaboration with members of the Belt and Road Initiative.
"For us, it is very important to be able to work with Qingdao Agricultural University, because China has numerous technological innovations. Uruguay is a country with a great wealth of natural resources that must be leveraged with Qingdao's technology," stated Lucas Borchardt, executive director of Reevolution.
Borchardt also highlighted that cooperation between Uruguay and China could generate significant benefits in areas such as cattle production, genetic improvement, genomic research of pastures, and seed innovation, allowing both countries to deepen their collaboration in multiple fields and achieve joint advances.
During a visit to the facilities of Vland Biotech, the Uruguayan delegation toured the research laboratories and vaccine production plants, expressing a favorable impression of China's technological advancements in this area.
In parallel, Qingdao University and the University of the Republic of Uruguay signed a memorandum of cooperation to establish a joint laboratory in pharmaceutical bionanotechnology, with the aim of creating an international center of excellence for concentrating high-level talent, a platform for the transfer of scientific achievements, and a model base in the field of smart biological nanomedicine.
According to Chinese customs data, in 2025, the volume of imports and exports between China and Uruguay reached $719 million, with an annual growth rate of over 9%. In the same year, Uruguayan products such as soybean meal and rapeseed meal gained access to the Chinese market, opening up even greater space for cooperation between the two countries.
The cooperation between research institutions and companies in Qingdao, a Chinese city, and Uruguay is a reflection of the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries. Since the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Uruguay in 2023, bilateral trade has experienced rapid growth. In 2026, the 38th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries will be commemorated, and China has remained for consecutive years as the largest trading partner of the South American nation.
Uruguayan products such as beef, dairy, and wines offer more options to Chinese consumers, while Chinese automobiles, home appliances, and daily consumer products enrich the lives of Uruguayans.
