On April 18, the awarding meeting of 2015 Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Award was held in Shanghai. Six research achievements of the academy were awarded the Municipal Science and Technology Award. Prof. Cai Youmin, the president of SAAS, and the winners of the awards from SAAS attended the awarding meeting.

The project “The study on innovation and utilization of rice genetic material”, led by Prof. Luo Lijun, researcher from Shanghai Agrobiological Gene Center, won the first prize of Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Progress Award. During the research, a number of rice genetic material have been collected on a global scope, and a systematic evaluation, innovation, and conservation has been conducted. One national invention patent, one new variety right, and one software right have been obtained. Three new varieties have been development, which are cultivated over 90,000 ha in the past three years. The water-saving and drought tolerant rice varieties developed by the research team help save water, improve rice quality, lower application of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and reduce agricultural pollution.

The project “Innovation in Culture Technique of Plant Remediating Soil Polluted by PAHs”, led by Prof. Yao Quanhong, researcher from the Institute of Biotechnology, won the second prize of Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Progress Award. The project “Selection of High Yielding and Disease Tolerant Recessive Nuclear Male Sterile Double-Low Rapeseed Hybrid Xiangnong 03 and Huyouza 4”, led by Prof. Sun Chaocai, researcher from the Institute of Crop Breeding and Cultivation, won the second prize of Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Progress Award. The project “Selection and Application of Spring Type and Early Maturing New Variety with High Quality and Adversity Tolerance of Vegetable Soybean”, led by Prof. Gu Weihong, researcher from the Institute of Protected Horticulture, won the second prize of Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Progress Award. The project “Study on Enhancing Calcium Content and Calcium Absorption Efficiency in Rice”, led by Prof. Piao Zhongze, research from the Institute of Crop Breeding and Cultivation, won the third prize of Shanghai Municipal Technology Invention Award. The project “Integration and Demonstration of Key Techniques of High Efficiency Eco-Agriculture in Chongming Island”, led by Prof. Lv Weiguang, researcher from the Institute of Eco-Environment Protection, won the third prize of Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Progress Award.