farm | food | videos | price | information | history

9556View
2m 30sLenght
24Rating

For more news visit ☛ http://english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision Add us on Facebook ☛ http://me.lt/9P8MUn A Chinese scientist is the brainchild of the world's first hybrid rice. Known as China's "father of hybrid rice," the 81-year-old scientist developed the latest "super rice" breed that sets a world record on the eve of World Food Day on Sunday. Here's more. An 81-year-old Chinese scientist created the latest "super rice" hybrid. It set a new world record for its output, a day ahead of World Food Day on Sunday, October 16th. Known as China's "father of hybrid rice," Yuan Longping crossbred the world's first hybrid rice in 1974. Yuan vows to create a "super rice" hybrid that will yield more than 16 tons per 2.5 acres. [Yuan Longping, Director, National Hybrid Rice R&D Center]: "Everybody knows that rice is a main food source. It is the staple food for more than half of the world's population and more than 60 percent of China's population. Therefore, it is of great importance to improve rice output and guarantee China's food security." Researchers say Yuan's "super rice" produces more than 15 tons for every 2.5 acres of land—instead of the national average of seven tons. The "super rice" is grown in half of the country's paddy fields—comprising over 60 percent of China's total rice production. One farmer attributes yield increase to genetically modified technology. [Bian Dexiang, Farmer]: "This technology saves water and fertilizer and improves the yield. We only need to apply fertilizer once during its whole growth. The total output this year is the highest in history." Greenpeace's Food and Agriculture campaigner believes Yuan's "super rice" has an advantage over genetically modified rice. [Fang Lifeng, Greenpeace Food and Agriculture Campaigner]: "This technology saves water and fertilizer and improves the yield. We only need to apply fertilizer once during its whole growth. The total output this year is the highest in history." Greenpeace's Food and Agriculture campaigner believes Yuan's "super rice" has an advantage over genetically modified rice. [Fang Lifeng, Greenpeace Food and Agriculture Campaigner]: "Yuan Longping's hybrid rice has been very well promoted in many other countries, especially in Africa. It offers a solution, or at least makes great contribution to the world's food security. I think it is worth it to further promote his technology. On the other hand, I haven't observed any of such advantages with genetically modified rice." Since 2009, the Chinese "super rice" has been grown in various regions of the world, including the United States, India and Vietnam.