Rhizobia, a kind of bacteria growing with soybean, has been the focus of Professor Lam’s decades-long research career. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen in the soil for legume plants to use, which in turn replenishes the soil. The nitrogen fixing agent also acts as the perfect natural fertiliser for soybean, waiving the use of chemical fertilisers which are big carbon emitters and thus playing a role in alleviating the climate emergency.

For years, Professor Lam has sought to identify promising strains of rhizobia with high nitrogen fixing capacity. Last year, his team launched the city’s first agricultural space experiment, sending rhizobia samples to outer space to test their genetic variations under extraordinary space conditions, with a view to finding resilient new strains that may flourish in the most abysmal of circumstances.

Besides working with Chinese farmers, the professor also develops cultivars that withstand drought and heat for peasants in South Africa and Pakistan to use, whilst helping Pakistani Muslim women acquire agricultural knowhow that improves their social status.

“Seeing our cultivars lining the fields feels like publishing an important essay, which perennially fills me with joy,” says Professor Lam. He feels honoured to receive the award and expresses gratitude to his research team and his family. His wife’s understanding and support, he says, dispels any worries he may have and allows him to devote single-mindedly to scientific research. He is also grateful to the team’s steadfastness and trust in him, with which “they’ve pursued the rocky journey with him uncomplainingly, and given their all”.

Valuing team spirit, the agrobiologist believes “together, we go further”, and is hoping he can bring positive change to the world with like-minded spirits.