On May 28, 2024, coinciding with the eighth National Science and Technology Workers' Day, a celebration event was hosted by the Jiangsu Association for Science and Technology and Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology in the Jiangsu Science and Technology Workers' Activity Center. In this event, the research achievement of “Basic research on optimizing nitrogen application in rice production in China” collaborated by Prof. ZHAO Xu and Prof. YAN Xiaoyuan was selected as one of the top ten scientific and technological advances in the field (basic research) of Jiangsu Province in 2023.

Prof. Zhao Xu with the certificate on the stage (source: photographer Li Quanze)