The Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Water Environment and Agriculture Product Safety was established in July 2018 upon the approval of the Department of Science and Technology of Hunan Province. This laboratory has been collaborating with the Central South University with their strength in aquatic environmental science research and agricultural product safety quality assurance. They have formed a comprehensive research platform integrating the multi-disciplines of science, such as agriculture, biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, environment, materials, medical science, and metallurgy, etc. These are based on the characteristics of Hunan Province. Therefore, this laboratory is a crucial base for the cultivation of high-level multi-disciplinary talents.

This laboratory currently has 28 full-time employees, which includes 19 professors and 8 associate professors. This research team has been assembled by the academician from the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences, tri-national specialized experts, two "New Century Excellent Talents" entitled by the Ministry of Education, two specialists selected from Hunan Provincial Hundred Talents Program, and recipients of the Distinguished Young Scholars of Hunan Province Fund. The professional backgrounds of these employees are comprehensive, and cover the disciplines of analytical chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, environmental chemistry, materials science, medical science, and organic chemistry, etc. Furthermore, the integrations of these different disciplines have been encouraged. In addition, this laboratory has taken a proactive approach to strengthen the structure of the talent team and strived continually to recruit and cultivate young and middle-aged academic experts. Its goal is to establish a highly capable talent echelon and to strengthen the multi-disciplinary collaborations.

In response to the recent major national strategies, this key laboratory has a strong focus on its relationship on harmonious coexistence between human and nature, resource conservation and environmental protection. Hence, this laboratory has set up four research directions, including aquatic environment and products safety quality, water and crops irrigation safety quality, agricultural non-point source pollution impacts on watershed environment, and trace substances analysis in multi-media complicated matrixes. As a result, innovative outcomes can be achieved and accomplished.

In the past three years, this key laboratory has commenced more than 50 major national projects, which were supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China with a funding of more than 60 million dollars. Together, they have published more than 300 SCI papers and have owned 30 intellectual patents. Their research discoveries have also been awarded with 6 provincial and ministerial level research awards.