Roughly 70% of Uruguay is covered by grassland. The natural pasture, also found in northern Argentina and southern Brazil, contribute to the quality of Uruguayan beef which gives it a commercial advantage in markets such as China and Europe. Uruguay has now signed an agreement with a Chinese university to create a Joint Pasture Agriculture Laboratory, designed to drive progress in Genetic Improvement and Plant Biotechnology for pasture and forage production.
This laboratory is just one of the outcomes from Uruguay President Yamndu Orsi’s state visit to China in February where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders signed over 30 agreements covering trade, investment, as well as  science and technology cooperation.