The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development sends condolences to the family of Academician Vien Long Binh

One day after Mr. Vien Long Binh passed away in Truong Sa city, Hunan province (China), Minister Le Minh Hoan sent a letter of condolences on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam.

Mr. Vien Long Binh, aged 91, is considered the father of hybrid rice. Photo: CCTV. “We recognize and highly appreciate the contributions of Professor and Academician Vien Long Binh to the world agricultural science in general and China in particular, especially appreciate the results of hybridization to create The world’s first hybrid rice was developed in 1973. With this success, he has helped nearly 20% of the world’s population escape hunger and contributed to making China one of the world’s leading rice producers,” said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan. First letter of condolence, sent on May 23, 2021, to the family of the late Professor, Academician Yuan Longping and the Chinese agricultural industry. Mr. Yuan Longping was born in 1930, is China’s leading agricultural scientist on hybrid rice. He and his colleagues have contributed to bringing rice yield from 4.5 tons/ha to 15 tons/ha. This is considered the key to helping China solve the food security problem for more than a billion people in this country. Thanks to the late Professor Vien Long Binh, hybrid rice has been replicated throughout Africa, America and Asia. In Vietnam, the first generation of hybrid rice that was put into wide production was the variety Bac Uu 64 (also known as Tap Giao 4 – TG4), starting in the early 1990s. Thanks to this variety, along with the following varieties. such as San uu 63 (called Tap Giao 1), San uu Que 99 (Tap Giao 5), Vietnam has stabilized domestic food. After nearly ten years of access, our country has self-produced high-quality hybrid rice varieties such as HYT100, HYT 57, LC2, LC3, especially VL20 and TH3-3. However, the pioneer in the development of hybrid rice still belongs to the late Professor Vien Long Binh. Minister Le Minh Hoan continued: “In his working life, Professor, Academician Vien Long Binh has visited, worked, and supported projects/programs on hybrid rice many times, and trained staff. Research and technology transfer for Vietnam’s agricultural industry These are solid agricultural scientific foundations, gradually contributing to poverty reduction, ensuring food security and creating an export miracle. rice export of Vietnam”. At the end of the letter, Minister Hoan expressed his gratitude to the man who is considered the father of hybrid rice: “In the face of infinite grief, on behalf of Vietnam’s agricultural industry and in my personal name, I would like to send to the whole family of Mr. and the Chinese agriculture industry deeply condolences for this great loss and grief.”