Prof. Xuhua Zhong is a crop physiologist of the Crop Physiology and Ecology Laboratory at the Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences. He obtained his Ph.D in plant physiology from the South China Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Dr. Zhong led the development of the "three controls" technology, which can typically reduce 20% of fertilizer N input while increasing grain yield by 10%. Nitrogen use efficiency and resistances to diseases and lodging are significantly improved. The “three controls” technology is now one of the most widely adopted rice-growing technologies in China. Dr. Zhong was awarded the Norman Borlaug Prize in 2014.