Bulletin No. 2, 2024

Chinese University Bulletin 16 is an area worth exploring,” says Professor Lam. “Soybeans are not only rich in nutrients, but also carry high environmental and societal values.” The professor is also passionate about playing his role in shouldering social responsibility. He hopes to bring their expertise to the world by contributing a “Hong Kong solution” to global food security and sustainable agriculture. The team is striving to position the city as a leading hub for development in technology, certification, and quality assurance in the field. “A dedicated portion of the profits arisen from commercialisation could be used to support further R&D endeavours and boost the income of farmers,” says Professor Lam. “It encourages emission- reduced agriculture and makes it a win-win situation for both farmers and the climate.” From lab to field: A path to food security and sustainable agriculture Driven by the pressing global issues of hunger and food security, Professor Lam has been engaging in soybean research for more than a quarter-century. He notes that soybeans are highly nutritious as they account for 70% of the world’s plant proteins. Increased soybean yields and the production of functional foods can provide sufficient protein to impoverished areas that cannot afford meat, so as to end hunger and improve global food security. At a poverty alleviation programme in 2009, Professor Lam met Professor Zhang Guohong from the Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, who has extensive experience in dryland agriculture research. In 2014, Professor Lam and his team successfully identified and cloned a novel salt-tolerance gene from wild soybeans by using advanced genomic sequencing and molecular biotechnology, which has significantly enhanced the development of salt- tolerant soybeans. Subsequently, using non-GMO (genetically modified organism) methods, the two professors were able to make use of the novel gene to select and cultivate soybean varieties (Longhuang 1, 2, and 3) with high yield, stress tolerance and wide adaptability. The cultivation of the Longhuang series in Gansu province has alleviated local planting issues and improved the livelihood of farmers. Out of the 120 million hectares of farmland in China, more than 33 million hectares are affected by salinisation. This is particularly severe in northwestern areas like Gansu. Hence, Professor Lam and his team donated these three climate- | Professor Lam Hon-ming