Recently, two researchers, Clayton Butterly and Bing Han, from the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences (SAFES), Faculty of Science, the University of Melbourne, visited the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment. The visit was hosted by Prof. Jin Hongmei, team leader of the Research Team of Agricultural Wastes Utilization.

During the visit, Clayton Butterly gave an academic talk entitled “Optimising nitrogen and carbon recovery from livestock wastes for multiple production and environmental benefits”. Clayton introduced the recent progress in the application of lignite on the reservation of carbon and nitrogen as well as control of odorous gas emission on livestock farms. Dr. Cao Yun of JAAS gave a presentation entitled "Development of a substrate for vegetable seedling using dairy manure bedding and coal".

Both sides discussed the potential use of lignite in the waste management, the application prospects, existing bottlenecks and future development of the technology. Clayton Butterly and Bing Han also had a guided tour to the laboratories of the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment and the Experimental Base of Agricultural Waste Recycling in JAAS Luhe Animal Experimental Base.