Beijing, China
March 23, 2010
French Ambassador to China, Herve Ladsous, on behalf of the French Government awarded the highest medal on agriculture reward in France to Professor Yuan Longping (photo), founder of hybrid rice, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of China National Hybrid Rice R&D Center, to honor his significant contribution to the food security of China and the world.
This reward was established in 1883, dedicated to honoring people with outstanding accomplishment in agriculture. In the past 127 years, it has been awarded to thirty thousand recipients. However, only 400 people have got the highest medal of the reward.
The French Ambassador said that the highest medal was to honor Professor Yuan’s contribution to hybrid rice and world food security. In recent years, China has cultured 15 million hectares of hybrid rice, with an average yield of 7.2 tons/hectare, 20% higher than that of normal high yield rice. In particular, the super hybrid rice, planted in two million hectares of land, can reach the yield of 9 tons/hectare. Hybrid rice has achieved evident yield enhancement not only in China, but also in other parts of the world. Vietnam has planted 600,000 hectares of hybrid rice in recent years, with an average output of 6.4 tons/hectare, 40% higher than that of local variety. In 2009, countries other than China cultured three million hectares of hybrid rice, with an average increase of yield at 2 tons/hectare.
In his short speech at the embassy, Professor Yuan said that the medal would encourage him to work even harder. Science should not be constrained by national boundaries. Hybrid rice should contribute to the whole world. The world has planted 1.5 billion hectares of rice, with an average yield of only 4 tons/hectare. If half of the land is used for hybrid rice, the increase of 2 tons/hectare can generate 1.5 billion tons of rice output in total, capable of feeding 400 million people every year. Therefore, to promote hybrid rice throughout the world is of great importance to food security and peace.
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