The 2025 red lotus hybrid rice breeding base construction and international cooperation conference, hosted by Wuhan University (WHU), was recently held in Luotian county, Huanggang, Central China's Hubei province.

Experts, industry professionals, and government representatives from China and abroad gathered to discuss the high-quality development of the Luotian hybrid rice breeding base, observe field trials, and showcase new rice varieties.

The delegation conducts an on-site visit to the hybrid rice breeding base.

Red lotus hybrid rice, an original WHU achievement, is one of the three internationally recognized cytoplasmic male sterility types. Since its introduction, it has gained widespread recognition in China and countries of the Belt and Road Initiative, generating over 9 billion yuan ($1.3 billion) in direct economic benefits.

Delegates visited the red lotus hybrid rice breeding base, which features more than 30 new rice varieties. Professor Zhu Renshan of WHU's School of Life Sciences highlighted the crop's heat tolerance, disease and pest resistance, and high yield.

At the international seminar, representatives from Pakistan's Punjab University and a Vietnam's seed company shared experiences promoting red lotus hybrid rice in South and Southeast Asia.

The delegation receives a briefing on the rice varieties at the hybrid rice breeding base.