Bulletin No. 2, 2024

Professor Lam and Professor Zhang (left) inspect the growth of the Longhuang series in Gansu 17 resilient soybean varieties to farmers to grow on marginal lands of the Loess Plateau in Gansu province. Cumulative acreage of Longhuang 1, 2 and 3 reached more than 78,666 hectares from 2016 to 2023, actualising the professors’ common vision to “display science on field”. Professor Lam explains: “By 2023, the cultivation of the Longhuang series had added RMB 97 million to farmers’ incomes. Greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by the equivalent of 82,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide.” Thanks to the symbiotic relationship between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules, atmospheric nitrogen is converted into organic forms usable by crops, allowing farmers to reduce the use of fertilisers, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and promotes global sustainable development. To boost the impact of his research, the professor has stepped out of his comfort zone by taking nitrogen-fixation rhizobia and soybean seeds on a space journey. Last year, the team collaborated with China Resources Research Institute of Science & Technology and Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group to initiate Hong Kong's first agricultural research project in space. The "Tianzhou-6" cargo spacecraft and “Shenzhou-16” carried nitrogen- fixation rhizobia and Longhuang 1, 2, and 3 seeds to the “Tiangong” space station, exploring new opportunities induced by the unique environment of space. Currently, the experimental samples have completed a six-month space journey and have been sent back to Earth for further analysis. In the world of scientific research, Professor Lam believes that what seems like a small step today may become a giant leap in the future. “I hope to lead Hong Kong's soybean research to the world, paving the way for a sustainable future for the next generation.”