Agro-Environmental Protection Institute (AEPI), established in 1979 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), is a public institute engaged in the scientific research and monitoring of agricultural and rural environment in China The institute unswervingly follows the principles of “Innovation, Truth Seeking, Harmony, and Earnest Practice”, focusing on the national strategic needs of green agricultural development and rural revitalization. Targeting significant scientific issues in agricultural production and rural environments, AEPI prioritizes studies on monitoring the safety of agricultural products in relation to their environmental origins, remediation and safe utilization of polluted farmlands, green, low-carbon, and circular agricultural development, and the improvement and enhancement of rural living environments. It conducts foundational research on theory development, technology innovations, integration, and demonstrations to provide scientific and technological support for the development of modern agriculture and the implementation of rural revitalization strategies in China.

Currently, the institute employs 217 personnel, with 133 staff members on its official roster. Among these, there have been 34 instances of science and technology talent titles granted at provincial or ministerial level, including State Council special allowances, outstanding national high-level talents, leading figures as well as young talents under Shennong Talent Program. There are 33 senior experts holding a title equivalent to a professor (among whom 3 are in Grade II positions, and 5 in Grade III), along with 64 deputy senior experts (equivalent to associated professors). The number of retired employees stands at 82 individuals. Currently, there are 19 doctoral supervisors and 70 masters supervisors, as well as nearly 200 graduate students at the institute.

Since its establishment, the institute has undertaken more than 770 projects, including the National “863” and “973” Projects, and the projects funded by the National Key Scientific and Technological Program, National Science and Technology Support Program, National Key Research and Development Program, National Natural Science Foundation, Special Scientific Research Subjects of Public Welfare Industry, provincial and ministerial-level Science and Technology Development Plan Project and the Foundation for Natural Science. More than 1300 achievements have been made, including 130 national, provincial, or ministerial awards. More than 3,000 papers have been published in Chinese and international academic journals, and over 150 books, with staff members of the institute as editors or associate editors, have been published.

Focusing on the frontline of modern agriculture, the institute supports technology transfer in fields like source controlling of pollution in agricultural products, monitoring and forecasting agricultural environments, eco-circular agriculture, and rural living environment improvements. Since the 13th Five-Year Plan, the institute has offered technical services to safely utilize polluted farmland and evaluate its effects, remediate heavy metal-polluted soils, and has undertaken over 300 government-purchased service projects in more than 20 provinces and nearly 200 counties across China. The institute has taken the lead in carrying out critical tasks assigned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, including nationwide monitoring of agricultural product quality and safety, supervisory inspections, origin environmental surveillance, validation of detection capacities for pesticide residues and heavy metals. With 182 types of primary and secondary national standard substances developed, our work ensures precise testing for laboratories nationwide. We offer full scientific and technology support to initiatives like promoting animal waste process at county-wide, managing non-point source agricultural pollution, surveying invasive alien species, and demonstrating green integrated crop-livestock systems. Our technologies have been included among the main promoted techniques by both the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. Technologies of rural toilet renovation are demonstrated in 19 provinces, and 10 predominant models have been proposed. Centered around soft power in technology consultancy, we provide over 200 enterprises and public institutions with environmental impact assessments and energy-saving evaluation consultations related to agriculture, alongside handling over 300 environmental damage identification projects, supporting judicial identifications in almost 30 provinces since 2020. For four consecutive terms starting from 2020, we’ve been honored with the Excellent Team Award for Outcome Transfer by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).