Top hybrid rice scientist lifts hundreds of millions out of hunger globally
Yang Sheng is a chief reporter at the Global Times covering Chinese politics, diplomacy and military.
Yang Sheng, Lou Kang and Lin Xiaoyi Published: May 23, 2021 11:23 PM Updated: May 24, 2021 12:33 AM
Yuan Longping Photo: VCG
Students present flowers in front of a statue of Yuan Longping at Southwest University in southwest China s Chongqing on Sunday. Yuan, renowned for developing the first hybrid rice strain that relieved countless people of hunger, died of organ failure at 91 on Saturday. Yuan graduated from the Southwest Agricultural College (now the Southwest University) in 1953. Photo: cnsphoto
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.