IEDA has built a multi-level and multi-functional system of agro-environmental research platforms, including national engineering laboratories, ministerial and institutional key laboratories, international joint laboratories, and national and ministerial field stations.

(I) Laboratories

There are seven key laboratories that concern crop water use efficiency and disaster mitigation for crops, agricultural and rural ecology and environment, green low-carbon agriculture in North China, water conservation dryland farming, energy conservation and waste treatment in facility agriculture, agricultural film pollution prevention and control, and leisure agriculture, and one laboratory for environmental factor risk assessment for animal products.

1	State Engineering Laboratory of Efficient Water Use of Crops and Disaster Mitigation	2011
2	MARA Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Rural Ecological Environment	2011
3	MARA Key Laboratory of Dryland Agriculture	2011
4	MARA Key Laboratory of Energy Conservation & Waste Management of Agricultural Structures	2011
5	MARA Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Residual Pollution in Agricultural Film	2016
6	MARA Key Laboratory for Leisure Agriculture	2016
7	MARA Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in North China	2022
8	MARA Animal Environmental Facility Surveillance, Inspection and Testing Center (Beijing)	2014

1. State Engineering Laboratory of Efficient Water Use of Crops and Disaster Mitigation

To tackle the key technical bottlenecks in water conservation, disaster resistance and loss reduction for enlarging the production of rice, wheat and corn in the main grain-producing regions of China, the Laboratory carries out systematic research on common key technologies, products, and tools for farmland rainwater harvesting, water-saving irrigation, and drought, cold and heat resistance, which will increase water availability for crop production, improve crop water utilization efficiency, and reduce grain losses caused by disasters.  

2. MARA Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Rural Ecological Environment

Focusing on key scientific and technological issues such as agricultural response to climate change and meteorological disaster prevention and mitigation, comprehensive control of agricultural non-point source pollution and rural habitat improvement, agricultural green inputs and environmental protection of producing areas, the Laboratory examines the laws of agricultural GHG emissions and pollutant migration and transformation; explores the core technologies of agro-meteorological disaster prevention and mitigation, production stabilization and carbon sequestration; introduces innovative key technologies for non-point source pollution control and habitat improvement; develops green products such as agricultural nano-drugs and bio-based materials; and proposes a comprehensive plan for agricultural and rural environmental protection in typical regions and applies it on a demonstration basis.

3. MARA Key Laboratory of Dryland Agriculture

The Laboratory conducts research on precipitation conversion mechanism and regulation pathways, rainfall-harvested irrigation and fertilization mechanism and technical products, and dryland water-adaptive planting system optimization and technical models.

4. MARA Key Laboratory of Energy Conservation & Waste Management of Agricultural Structures

The Laboratory focuses research on the mechanism of biological-environmental interactions and efficient utilization of resources; efficient utilization of photothermal resources and energy-saving engineering in facility horticulture; and treatment and efficient utilization of waste in facility farming.

5. MARA Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Residual Pollution in Agricultural Film

The Laboratory is engaged in the construction of agricultural film residue monitoring and early warning system; the formulation of policies, regulations and standards for agricultural film residue pollution control; and the research on hazards and secondary hazards of agricultural film residue pollution, and film mulching suitability evaluation technologies and pollution control programs.

6. MARA Key Laboratory for Leisure Agriculture

The Laboratory carries out research on basic theories, key technologies, innovative products, and operational models in modern leisure agriculture, and aims to build an innovative research platform based on the development needs of leisure agriculture, which supports scientific and technological innovation, theory and model exploration, and result transformation and promotion.

7. MARA Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in North China

The Laboratory is engaged in the research and development of technologies for efficient utilization of water and fertilizer and soil fertilization to increase carbon sinks, technologies for clean recycling of agricultural waste to reduce carbon emissions, and green low-carbon agricultural technologies and digital applications in the North China Plain, which intends to address the problems of poor integration of land use and preservation, low level of emission reduction and carbon sequestration technologies, increasing intensity of agricultural GHG emissions, and insufficient supply of low-carbon products in the biannual maturing areas of the North China Plain.

8. MARA Animal Environmental Facility Surveillance, Inspection and Testing Center (Beijing)


The Center assesses the ecological and environmental factor risk of animal products, the environmental factor risk of production processes of animal products; risk related to the environmental impact of breeding waste; and risk related to the impact of international environmental conventions on animal products, and also conducts exchanges and develops standards on environmental risks of animal products.

(II) Field Observation and Experiment Stations

There are four national scientific observation and experimental stations for agriculture, located in Shouyang (Shanxi), Shunyi (Beijing), Nagqu (Tibet), and Yueyang (Hunan) respectively.

1	National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station for Dryland Agroecosystem in Shouyang, Shanxi	2021
2	National Agro-environment (Shunyi) Observation and Experimental Station	2018
3	National Agro-environment (Nagqu) Observation and Experimental Station	2018
4	National Agro-environment (Yueyang) Observation and Experimental Station	2018

1. National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station for Dryland Agroecosystem in Shouyang, Shanxi  

The Station focuses research on the characteristics and evolution of resource and environmental elements of dryland agroecosystems, optimization of crop structure and functional enhancement of dryland agroecosystems, ways and technologies for efficient utilization of resources in dryland agroecosystems and optimal productivity layout and regional sustainable development of dryland ecosystems.

2. National Agro-environment (Shunyi) Observation and Experimental Station

The Station conducts basic research, as well as research and development of key technologies, on agricultural response to climate change and carbon sequestration, efficient utilization of water and fertilizer resources and comprehensive control of non-point source pollution, and control of new-type pollutants and value-added utilization of waste.

3. National Agro-environment (Nagqu) Observation and Experimental Station

The Station carries out monitoring of the ecological diversity and functional diversity of alpine grassland and the impacts of climate change and grazing activities on alpine grassland, and implements the comprehensive management of degraded grassland.

4. National Agro-environment (Yueyang) Observation and Experimental Station

The Station keeps track of the evolution of environmental elements of paddy fields and drylands and arable land quality in the Dongting Lake area to acquire and accumulate agro-environmental data and information; investigates the occurrence and control mechanisms of agricultural non-point source pollution, monitors Dongting Lake water bodies and controls the pollution; carries out technology innovation and integration for the prevention and control of agricultural non-point source pollution, environment-friendly fertilization of typical crops, hindrance and control of agricultural pollutants and safe use of slightly and moderately contaminated farmland, and utilization of agricultural waste, as well as the long-term in-situ observation of the effects of applying relevant technologies.