Yuan Longping wins future science prize

Yuan Longping, known as the "world father of hybrid rice", has won the life science section of the Future Science Prize, with two other scientists.

"There is no limit to scientific research, and I still have a dream - which is hybrid rice going global and covering the whole world," Yuan said in a video address at the award ceremony for the 2018 Future Science Prize in Beijing on Sunday. "I hope hybrid rice can benefit people around the world and play a big role in enhancing world food security."

Hybrid rice can feed an additional 70 million Chinese people every year, making huge contributions to ending hunger in the country, Yuan said.

Yuan is a pioneer in hybrid rice research. He developed the first hybrid rice in 1974.

The 88-year-old agricultural scientist shared the Life Science Prize along with Zhang Qifa and Li Jiayang for their pioneering work in breeding new rice varieties with high yield and superior quality.

Touted as "China's Nobel Prize", as both are privately funded, the Future Science Prize was instituted by a group of entrepreneurs and scientists in 2016 to honor top Chinese scientists in life science, physical science, mathematics and computer science.