Recently, the National Office for Science and Technology Rewards has announced the list of China's annual national science awards of 2014. Dr. Ralston, grassland expert from New Zealand, and Adjunct Professor of the State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems and School of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology of LZU, won China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award (CISTCA), with LZU and the Agriculture Department of Guizhou Province as co-organizers. Dr. Ralston has cooperated with the State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems and School of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology of LZU to carry out the scientific researches for a long time and made great contribution to the Grassland Science and the industrial development as well as researches on Seed Science and Production of School of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology of LZU. This award shows the Chinese government’s appreciation for the outstanding work of Dr. Ralston and the long-term international cooperation carried out by the State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems and School of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology of LZU.
It is the first CISTCA obtained by Gansu Province and LZU.
News Background:
Phil Ralston, born in February, 1949, is grassland expert from New Zealand. He is the senior researcher of the National Agricultural Research Institute of New Zealand, leader of the plant improvement research team, President of the International Organization of Forage Seed, and has won three Science and Technology Awards in New Zealand and one Friendship Award in China. It is recommended by the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand.
Skilled in applying advanced scientific theory to major production problems, Dr. Ralston is an international leader in forage seed production science and has made great achievements in the field of agro-grassland system, agro-grassland science and forage seed science.
Since 1983, Dr. Ralston has been actively involved in the implementation of 30 projects of grassland and livestock in China. By applying the advanced theory and technology on grassland and husbandry of New Zealand and other countries to the grassland in the western regions of China and carrying out the long-term cooperation with LZU and the Agriculture Department of Guizhou Province, he solved many technical problems, such as grassland soil improvement, variety selection, grass planting, management and utilization in the Karst regions in southwestern China and has made important contributions to the regional environmental improvement and poverty reduction among local people. Under his guidance, the first grazing dairy farm was built in South China, which set a good example for grass and livestock cultivation. He has cooperated with LZU to carry out researches on forage seed, promoting the rapid progress in this field. He also has helped to train a large number of professional and technical personnel, cultivating a strong research team in grass science and promoting the agro-grassland production in China.
(Translated by Li Yafeng; proofread by Sissi Xu)
