Yuan Longping (L), known as "father of hybrid rice," accepts the employment letter of distinguished academician of Guangdong Ocean University on Dec 18. [Photo/Nanfang Plus]

Yuan Longping, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering who is known as the "father of hybrid rice," was formally appointed as a distinguished academician of Guangdong Ocean University (GDOU) in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province on Dec 18.

Yuan expressed his hope at the engagement ceremony that he can work together with professors and experts from GDOU to research and breed high-yielding rice with high salinity and alkali tolerance, as well as apply third-generation hybrid rice to production as soon as possible to make greater contributions to national food production.

Cao Junming, Party secretary of GDOU, noted that Yuan has given careful guidance to the university's discipline construction and talent training, adding that a number of important advances were made under his guidance in the construction of coastal agricultural disciplines, especially in the scientific research of salt-tolerant rice.

GDOU attaches great importance to the research and extension work in the field of saline-tolerant rice. The university has established the China-ASEAN Seawater Rice Research Institute and appointed Yuan as the honorary president of the institute. In addition, the South China Center of the Technology Innovation Center of Saline and Alkali Tolerant Rice was also set up with the advice and support of Yuan to further develop seawater rice breeding.