The Grassland Science Research Institute of the Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences (TAAAS) was established on September 17, 2012. It is a regional-level research institute specializing in grassland research. The institute currently has 36 employees.
The institute primarily works to reconcile he goals of grassland ecological conservation with grass-fed livestock production. It emphasizes the creation of new varieties and products such as native grasses and high-quality forage grasses. The institute also applies key technology integrated demonstrations and promotes ecological industrialization, undertaking a systematic, full-chain scientific and technological approach to advance grassland husbandry-related disciplines.
The institute’s responsibilities include analyzing and addressing the major needs of natural grasslands and grass husbandry. It works to understand and resolve industry bottlenecks, especially in grassland husbandry, and to reorganize key tasks. Specific responsibilities include grass germplasm resource collection, evaluation, preservation, and utilization; new grass variety breeding, seed production, and cultivation research; grassland ecological protection and management; forage product processing and quality safety; as well as herbivorous livestock nutrition regulation and safe production.
The institute has four research departments: the Forage Variety Department, the Grassland Restoration and Reconstruction Department, the Forage Efficient Cultivation Department, and the High-Quality Grass Product Processing and Efficient Utilization Department. In addition, from 2018 to 2019, the institute reorganized its disciplines into two innovation teams: the Tibetan Grassland Resource Utilization Innovation Team and the Ruminant Nutritional Regulation and Healthy Breeding Team. Each team is composed of chief scientists, key experts, and research assistants.
The Grassland Institute is equipped with several significant research platforms, including a key laboratory jointly built by the province and ministry for highland barley and yak germplasm resources and genetic improvement. Additionally, the institute manages a national pasture germplasm resource nursery, a northern Tibetan grassland ecological animal husbandry comprehensive experimental station, a Tibetan crop seed production and seed industry science and technology innovation base, and two national beef cattle, yak, and pasture industry technology system experimental stations (Qunipa, Dazi County). It also operates six field test demonstration bases in areas such as Dangxiong County, Yangbajing Town, Mozhugongka County, Gongbujiangda County, Linzhou County, and Ngari City Grassland Station.
More information (in Chinese): http://www.taaas.org/jgsz/gyjs/cykx.htm.
