Agricultural scientist wins top award

When 76-year-old agricultural scientist Li Zhensheng decided to study wheat more than five decades ago, he did not expect it to be his life-long pursuit.

Li was yesterday presented with the 2006 National Supreme Scientific and Technological Award by President Hu Jintao for his achievements in wheat studies, which have helped feed millions of people.

Li, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), is the 10th Chinese scientist to win the top award 5 million yuan ($649,350) since it was established in 1999.