Li Zhengyou (Chinese:李铮友; July 1935 – 4 April 2018) was a Chineseagronomist and politician. A professor ofYunnan Agricultural University, he created the Dian-typehybrid rice and was called the "father of high-altitude hybrid rice". He served as Vice-Governor ofYunnan Province from 1983 to 1988, and Chairman of theYunnan Science and Technology Society.[1][2]
Li Zhengyou was born inChongqing in July 1935, with hisancestral home inGao County,Sichuan Province. He studied atSouthwest Agricultural University (now part ofSouthwest University) from 1956 to 1960, and joined the faculty ofYunnan Agricultural University in August 1961. Starting as a lecturer, he later became a professor and director of the university's Rice Research Institute.[2][3]
Li created the Dian (or Yunnan)-type hybrid rice, and was a pioneer in the research of high-altitude hybrid rice.[1] His research resulted in substantial increases in rice yields in the plateau province of Yunnan, raising farmer incomes. Consequently, he was awarded theState Natural Science Award in 1978 and the FifthYuan Longping Prize in Agricultural Sciences. He was also named amodel worker of Yunnan in 1983.[1] His research is published in the bookDian-type Hybrid Rice (滇型杂交水稻).[1]
From April 1983 to April 1988, he served as Vice-Governor ofYunnan Province and Chairman of the Yunnan Science and Technology Society.[2][3] He joined theChina Zhi Gong Party in May 1991, and served as a member of the 10th and 11th Central Committees of the party.[2] He was a member of the6th National People's Congress, and a member of the 8th, 9th, and 10thChinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). He served on the Standing Committee of the 9th CPPCC.[2]
Li retired in June 2009.[1]
Li died on 4 April 2018 inKunming, at the age of 82.[2]Yuan Longping, popularly known as the father of hybrid rice, wrote a eulogy praising his contributions to rice research.[1]
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