From September 7 to 13, the 76th International Executive Council Meeting of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) and the 4th World Irrigation Forum (WIF4) were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Professor Li Hong, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC University Committee, Vice President of the university, and academic leader in water-saving irrigation equipment and technology, was awarded the ICID Water Saving Technology Award. This award is the highest honor in the field of international irrigation and drainage technology and is conferred on only one individual worldwide each year.

With the theme “Sustainable Water Management and Climate Resilient Agriculture,” this year’s forum brought together more than 400 experts, policymakers and industry practitioners in the field of irrigation and drainage from around the globe. Professor Li Hong received the award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the promotion of agricultural water saving through intelligent sprinkler irrigation equipment and systems.

Professor Li has long been committed to innovative research on water-saving irrigation equipment and technology. She has made pioneering contributions to low-pressure sprinkler irrigation technologies and the original development of low-pressure uniform-spraying nozzles, variable-rate spraying nozzles, and water–fertilizer integrated application devices, as well as to new types of reel-type sprinkler irrigation units and other water-saving irrigation equipment. Field-level intelligent irrigation and drainage control systems based on crop water–fertilizer demand information, along with a new generation of irrigation units and equipment, have been widely applied in China’s irrigated farmlands, including paddy rice–wheat systems in large fields and tea plantations in hilly areas. These applications have significantly enhanced the technical level and practical effectiveness of water-saving irrigation in China. This award not only reflects Professor Li’s personal academic influence, but also signifies broader international recognition of China’s leading position in the research and application of water-saving irrigation technologies.

Founded in 1950, the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage is the most authoritative non-governmental international organization in the global irrigation and drainage sector, with member countries accounting for over 90% of the world’s irrigated area. Since 1997, ICID has established the International Water Saving Award, which comprises four categories: Technology Award, Management Award, Young Professional Award and Farmer Award. Among them, the Technology Award represents the highest honor for technological innovation in this field.