Meet Li Yu, a down-to-earth researcher who has been involved with edible fungi for over 40 years. Affectionately known as the "Mushroom Academician" by farmers, he is the only academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in the field of edible fungi in China and a professor at Jilin Agricultural University.
Fungi research is ingrained in Li Yu's soul. He tirelessly roams the mountains and works in the fields, leading by example to pave a new path to prosperity for tens of thousands of impoverished households. For decades, he has devoted himself wholeheartedly to the study of edible fungi, making significant contributions to the development of China's edible fungi industry and mycology.
Even in his old age, Li Yu remains dedicated to the development of China's edible fungi industry. He travels across the country, upholding his original intention of serving the country with science and technology, providing technological support for rural revitalization.
Li Yu, a photo provided by the Chinese Academy of Engineering
Taking over the "relay baton" and accelerating with full force
Li Yu's unbreakable bond with edible fungi began in 1978. That year, as the national college entrance examination and postgraduate entrance examination were restored, Li Yu was admitted to Jilin Agricultural University as a master's student, under the guidance of the renowned Chinese mycologist Zhou Zonghuang.
Zhou Zonghuang introduced Li Yu to the world of edible fungi and taught him how to conduct related research. Under his mentor's influence, Li Yu started focusing on myxomycetes research. However, at that time, China's mycological research was lagging far behind that of other countries. While over 500 species of myxomycetes had been discovered worldwide, none had been named by Chinese researchers.
As Li Yu neared graduation, the 70-year-old Zhou Zonghuang fell critically ill. On his deathbed, he entrusted Li Yu with these words, "Research on this group in China must not be abandoned. You must continue this work." Li Yu made a silent vow to not disappoint his mentor.
Taking over the "relay baton," Li Yu stayed at the university after graduation to teach, dedicating all his energy to the research of mycology and edible fungi engineering technology, like a wound-up machine. To uncover the secrets of fungi, he led students across the country to investigate fungal resources, conducting collection, preservation, and other fundamental research on these resources. He established a high-level fungal herbarium and germplasm resource bank, housing 61,000 specimens and strains, providing crucial support for basic mycological research in China.
Notably, Li Yu was the first Chinese to name a new species of myxomycetes and the first Chinese researcher to systematically classify myxomycetes at the genus, family, and order levels, filling the void in China's myxomycetes research field. He collected over 400 species of myxomycetes, accounting for two-thirds of known species worldwide, and led his team to produce over 98% of the world's myxomycetes molecular biology specimens.
Compiling over 40 years of knowledge, Li Yu published books such as "Myxomycetes of the Order Trichiales in China," "Fungi of China - Agarics," and "Fungi of China - Myxomycetes," making outstanding contributions to the research, conservation, collection, and utilization of fungal resources. The journal "Mycological Research," founded by him, has also become a core publication.
Through decades of hard work alongside mycological researchers, China's mycological scientific research has progressed from lagging behind to approaching the forefront globally, with increasing influence.
Prioritizing disciplinary development and nurturing "relay runners"
In Li Yu's heart lies a deep-rooted dream of serving the country through science and technology.
In 1978, China's edible mushroom production was only 57,000 tons. By 2018, production had reached 40 million tons, a 700-fold increase over 40 years. This unparalleled growth rate globally positioned China as the world leader in edible mushroom production, accounting for around 80% of the world's total, truly becoming a powerhouse in edible mushrooms.
"Although we are the world's top producer, we are not yet a strong nation in edible mushrooms. In many aspects, we still lag behind developed countries or those with earlier research starts," Li Yu aimed to quickly address these shortcomings.
To propel China's mycological research to the global forefront and transition from being big to being strong, more "relay runners" are needed for continuous innovation. Thus, Li Yu established the secondary disciplines of mycology and fungal crops, launching China's first undergraduate major in Applied Biological Sciences (Mycology). In 2019, he successfully advocated for the formal inclusion of Mycological Science and Engineering as an undergraduate major in the national directory of regular higher education programs, making it China's first undergraduate major in mycology.
After years of accumulation, Li Yu has built the country's first relatively complete talent cultivation system in mycology, spanning from vocational education to undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral levels.
A rigorous academician, Li Yu hopes all students can delve deep into grassroots and practical work, as true abilities are best tested at the production frontlines. He often tells his students, "Each of us with a plow, a seed, a pile of manure, and a piece of land, let's plant together and see who can achieve high yields, that's the real talent."
Over the past 30 years, the team led by Li Yu has become the largest mycological research team in the country, cultivating over 50 varieties in the field of edible mushrooms, with six passing national reviews. He has trained hundreds of master's and doctoral students, many of whom have become elite backbone personnel, contributing significantly to the thriving edible mushroom industry.
Li Yu, a photo provided by the Chinese Academy of Engineering
Getting Rich with Fungi: Writing Papers on the Land
Li Yu is a very down-to-earth scientist because he enjoys going to farmers to help everyone find ways to make money.
In Huangsongdian Town, Jiaohe City, Jilin Province, due to the high local altitude, the effective accumulated temperature throughout the year is not enough for crops to grow, and the frost-free period is very short, less than 100 days, so nothing grows here. How can everyone live a good life? The local government and agricultural science and technology personnel are concerned.
"Fungal crops have the characteristics of 'five non-competitions': they do not compete with people for food, do not compete with food for land, do not compete with land for fertilizer, do not compete with farmers for time, and do not compete with others for resources, and they can be planted at any time." Li Yu said.
Based on this, Li Yu prescribed a "medicine" for Huangsongdian Town. "Stop emphasizing low-temperature damage. We need to turn cold and low temperatures into an 'advantage' suitable for the growth of certain crops, such as cultivating advantageous resources like wood ear."
At first, everyone did not believe that the wood ear unique to the mountains and forests could be "moved" to the fields. Li Yu started a demonstration on a piece of land, introducing the varieties and techniques he researched, gaining the trust of the farmers. Under his leadership, more and more local farmers joined the wood ear cultivation team. After 30 years of hard work, Huangsongdian Town has transformed from barren land to a nationally renowned home of black fungus.
Local farmers have completely lifted themselves out of poverty by cultivating black fungus. Some farmers have even left their hometowns and become agricultural technicians in other provinces. For example, there are about 20 people from Huangsongdian Town working as black fungus farmers in Guizhou.
This successful path to prosperity should be shared nationwide. Therefore, Li Yu proposed a development strategy of "moving mushrooms south and expanding mushrooms north." In more than 400 national poverty-stricken counties, edible fungi have been chosen as an important means to alleviate poverty, with Zhashui County in Shaanxi Province being a successful example.
In 2017, Li Yu brought five independently bred black fungus varieties to Zhashui County to start a poverty alleviation initiative. He personally taught local agricultural technicians and farmers, imparting cultivation techniques and jointly promoting the industrialization of edible fungi. Zhashui County lifted itself out of poverty in just two years.
Since the start of China's comprehensive poverty alleviation campaign in 2012, Li Yu's team has visited over 40 impoverished areas nationwide, establishing 31 edible fungus technology promotion bases, supporting 22 leading edible fungus enterprises, and assisting over 800 villages, enabling tens of thousands of impoverished households to escape poverty through mushroom cultivation. In 2021, Li Yu was honored with the title of "National Model for Poverty Alleviation."
Li Yu's dream of serving the country with technology is far from over. "We must expand and strengthen China's edible fungus industry, not rest on past achievements, but continue to innovate, constantly introduce new results, and make new contributions to scientific research."
