CHINA / SOCIETY
By Global Times - Xinhua Published: May 22, 2021 01:45 PM
Yuan Longping Photo:CFP
Yuan Longping, widely known as the Father of Hybrid Rice, died of illness in Changsha at 1:07 pm on Saturday at the age of 91, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Yuan, the pioneer of the research and development of hybrid rice in China, was the first scientist in the world to successfully utilize the heterosis of rice.
On September 29, 2019, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, Yuan was awarded the Medal of the Republic . The award speech stated that he had devoted his life to the research, application and promotion of hybrid rice technology, created a super hybrid rice technology system, and made outstanding contributions to China s food security, agricultural scientific development and world food supply.