The Hunan Province Cotton and Sericulture Research Institute at the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (HUNAAS) traces its origins to the Hunan Cotton Science Research Institute, founded in 1929. Initially focused on breeding and promoting upland cotton varieties and guiding cotton cultivation techniques, the institute expanded its research scope over the decades. In 2025, it merged with the Hunan Sericulture Research Institute, integrating expertise in cotton, silkworm, and mulberry research.
The institute is engaged in the conservation of cotton, silkworm, and mulberry germplasm resources, breeding new varieties, pest control research, comprehensive utilization of by-products, and the promotion and training of new technologies. It has 129 employees, including research teams specializing in high-quality cotton breeding, stress-resistant breeding, early cotton breeding, crop cultivation, plant protection, dry grain crops, oilseeds, and Chinese medicinal plants.
The institute hosts six national scientific research platforms, including the National Hybrid Cotton Research and Extension Center under the Ministry of Science and Technology—the only one of its kind in China. Other key platforms include the Changde Branch of the National Cotton Improvement Center, the Changsha Branch of the National Silkworm Improvement Center, the Changsha Comprehensive Experimental Station of the National Sericulture Industry Technology System, the Dongting Lake Cotton Experimental Station of the National Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System of the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Changsha Experimental Station of the Quality Safety Risk Assessment Laboratory for Sericulture Products and Edible Insects of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Additionally, five Principal Investigator (PI) teams specializing in high-efficiency cotton breeding, stress-resistant and high-yield cotton breeding, machine-friendly and dense-resistant cotton breeding, new silkworm variety development, and high-quality, high-yield, multi-purpose mulberry breeding have been incorporated into the Yuelu Mountain Laboratory.
More information (in Chinese): http://www.hncks.com/.
