Lu Yonggen — Chinese agronomist, educator, and philanthropist

Career and roles

Lu served as President of South China Agricultural University from 1983 until 1995, guiding the institution through a period of expansion in both teaching and scientific work. In recognition of his contributions to the life sciences, he was elected an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 1993, one of the nation's highest honors for scientists. His professional life blended research, mentoring of students, and institutional leadership.

Scientific contributions and focus

As a plant geneticist and agronomist, Lu's work contributed to the study of crop genetics and breeding, with an emphasis on improving varieties and cultivation methods to support agricultural productivity. Throughout his career he published, supervised research, and promoted the application of genetic principles to practical farming challenges. He was respected for bridging laboratory research and field applications, and for training generations of agronomy professionals.

Philanthropy and public recognition

Later in life Lu attracted wide public attention when he donated his entire life savings—reported as 8.8 million yuan—to South China Agricultural University to support scholarships and scientific work. This act placed him among China's most notable individual philanthropists; in 2017 he was widely reported as the country's second most generous philanthropist that year. His gift was presented as an example of personal commitment to education and to the future of agricultural science.

Personal life, origins and death

Lu was born in Hong Kong (Hong Kong) on 2 December 1930 and spent much of his working life in southern China, centered on Guangzhou where South China Agricultural University is located. He died on 12 August 2019 in Guangzhou (Guangzhou) at the age of 88. Colleagues and students remembered him for both his scholarly dedication and his modest, service-oriented approach to leadership.

Legacy and notable facts

• President of South China Agricultural University, 1983–1995.
• Elected academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1993.
• Donated his life savings to support the university, drawing national attention in 2017.
• Remembered for combining scientific research, education and public-spirited philanthropy.

Lu Yonggen's life illustrates the close link between scientific work in agriculture and public service in modern China. His institutional leadership, research in plant genetics, and late-life philanthropy continue to be cited in discussions of university development, science education, and charitable giving within the country.