Tributes paid to scientist on World Food Day

Hunger and malnutrition remain a pressing issue in today's world.

But one man, no matter how difficult the situation he faced, worked hard to ensure that his people well-fed. He was Yuan Longping, esteemed as "father of hybrid rice", who cultivated higher yielding crop that now feeds billions.

Tributes are being paid to him on World Food Day, today, Oct 16. He was honored with a statue unveiled at the Sanya Paddy Field National Park in Hainan province, in May 2022, the first anniversary of his passing at the age of 90.

Created by celebrated sculptor Wu Weishan, the bronze work of 5 meters in height depicts the crop scientist holding spikes of rice in one hand, and a hat in another, to show a lifelong focus on and devotion to his undertaking, so that people no longer go hungry.