In 2011, China Agricultural University (CAU) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) established the "AfriCAU-Sino-Africa Experts Network." The joint initiative promotes cooperation on issues of rural environment protection and rural energy development between CAU and African agricultural scholars and experts.

It is also a prime example of the efforts being made by CAU in African countries.

Agricultural cooperation

Agriculture is a major consideration in China-Africa economic and technological cooperation. CAU, a top university in China for agricultural studies and development, has become a driving force in sharing agricultural expertise with African countries. CAU has sent senior agricultural technology experts and teachers abroad to help create agricultural development plans, doling out advice and providing technical guidance and training to African farmers.

From 2001 to 2011, the university provided agricultural education and technical training programs for over 600 people, covering fields including agricultural education, technology and management.

Agriculture is paramount in most African and other developing countries. Since 2000, when the First Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held in Beijing, CAU has intensified its agricultural cooperation with African countries. While it has helped to build specialized laboratories, agricultural testing fields and information networks, it also runs faculty and student exchange programs, and provides training for African laboratory staff.

Main agricultural cooperation projects carried out by CAU include a food research center in Cote d'Ivoire (1994-2007), Guinea's Koba Farm (1997-2007), a Zambian research program on maize high in vitamin A (2005-present), a research program on Sino-African anti-poverty (2007-2008), and Johnken Farm (1994 - present).

Agricultural training

Chinese foreign assistance in Africa usually comes in the form of education and training. About 15,000 Africans have taken part in China-supported training programs since the First Ministerial Conference of FOCAC.

CAU plays an important role in this area. As of 2011, the university had held 27 semesters of agricultural technology assistance training programs, and the number of agricultural technicians and officials who have participated in these programs has reached 512. They are from 46 African countries, including Ethiopia, Mauritania and Zambia. Twenty-two of these countries – like Benin, Uganda and Rwanda – can be found on a United Nations' list of least developed African countries and account for half of those trained.

The major training topics range from agricultural irrigation technology and agricultural machinery, to modern agricultural education. In addition to lectures, the trainees also partake in hands-on experiments and field visits after class.