On May 22nd, Yuan Longping, “father of hybrid rice”, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, died at the age of 91 in Changsha，central China's Hunan province. Students and teachers of HAU recalled the communications with Yuan Longping, expressed deep condolences to him, and will bear in mind Mr. Yuan's will and devote themselves to the agriculture.
HAU Recalled Mr. Yuan Longping
On 22nd, May, three letters of condolences were respectively sent to Yuan’s family by HAU, Henan Grain Crops Collaborative Innovation Center and Zhang Gaiping, the ex-president of Henan Agricultural University and academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering recalling the friendship between Yuan Longping and HAU and expressing grief to his passing away. And Mr. Yuan’s indoctrination and great spirit will inspire generations of HAU to move towards the peak of science.
On the morning of May 23, the teachers and students from the School of Agriculture spontaneously organized a symposium to mourn with deep grief for Mr. Yuan Longping who devoted his entire life to feeding China even the world. Among them, Li Fei, Yuan’s PhD student of HAU, said,“My tutor Yuan passed away peacefully leaving adequate rice to the world. I, as a rice researcher, will contribute to helping 1.4 billion Chinese eat better. ”
84-year-old Yuan Longping set off "star chasing" whirlwind in Henan Agricultural University,encouraging tackling "hybrid wheat"
Henan Grain Crops Collaborative Innovation Center and China National Hybrid Rice R&D Center signed strategic cooperation agreement on March 26, 2014. Zhang Gaiping, the then president of Henan Agricultural University and academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, offered the letter of appointment to Mr. Yuan Longping, “the father of hybrid rice”, in China National Hybrid Rice R&D Center in Changsha. Then, Yuan Longping officially served as the chief scientist of “2011 Plan” of the University in Henan Grain Crops Collaborative Innovation Center, and later, implemented the model project of high yield of super hybrid rice in Guangshan County of Henan Province.
On November 17, 2014, Mr. Yuan Longping came to Henan Agricultural University and gave a lecture titled “the Current Progress of Super Hybrid Rice Breeding” for all teachers and students, which caught students’ "star-chasing" whirlwind at that time.
The 85-year-old Yuan’s inspection of experimental field of HAU and admitting post-graduate students of HAU
On August 28, 2015, Yuan Longping came to Henan Agricultural University Modern Agricultural Experimental Site of Henan Food Crops Collaborative Innovation Center in Guangshan county of Henan province when he was 85 years old, and pre-estimated the high-yield model project of super hybrid rice before harvest.
“I am very delighted. We have confidence that the yield can exceed one thousand kilogram in hundred-mu area, and surpass nine hundred kilogram in thousand-mu area”, Mr. Yuan said. And this meant his affirmation and inspiration for teachers and students and science researchers in the University. Also, this project achieved the goal one year ahead of schedule. Besides, Mr. Yuan Longping admitted 6 post-graduates (included 2 doctoral candidates and 4 master degree candidates) of HAU who majored in crop genetics and breeding in 2015 and 2016.
Edited by Chen Xi Translated by Zhang Meiyuan, Zheng Mingzhu Proofread by Ma Xiaoxing Authorized by Zhou Hongfei
