Prof. Dr. Hua Li | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Lifetime Achievement Award

College of Enology, Northwest A&F University, China

Prof. Dr. Hua Li is a distinguished authority in viticulture and enology, widely recognized for founding China’s Grape and Wine Engineering discipline and establishing Asia’s first College of Enology. With a Ph.D. from Bordeaux Second University in France, he has been instrumental in transforming China’s wine industry through groundbreaking research, talent cultivation, and the development of a quality control system that brought Chinese wine to international standards. As a professor and mentor, he has trained numerous professionals who now lead the industry. His leadership roles include Vice President of Northwest A&F University and honorary dean of its College of Enology. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the National Famous Teacher Award and the National Science and Technology Progress Award. Prof. Hua Li’s visionary contributions have shattered long-held doubts about China’s potential in wine production, earning him a legacy as a pioneer and transformative figure in modern Chinese agricultural science.

Professional Profile 

ORCID Profile

Education

Prof. Dr. Hua Li began his academic journey with a Bachelor of Science in Pomology from Sichuan Agricultural College in China, where he laid the foundation for his lifelong commitment to horticultural and agricultural sciences. He further pursued advanced studies in France, earning both his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Enology from the prestigious College of Enology at Bordeaux Second University. His education in Bordeaux—a globally respected hub for wine science—equipped him with cutting-edge knowledge in viticulture and enology, which he later adapted and localized to the Chinese context. This international academic exposure allowed him to blend Western wine-making expertise with China’s unique agricultural environment. His educational background not only enabled him to build China’s first comprehensive academic programs in grape and wine engineering but also helped bridge the gap between traditional Chinese agricultural practices and modern global standards in wine production and quality control.

Professional Experience

Prof. Hua Li has held several influential academic and administrative roles over the course of his career. Most notably, he served as Vice President of Northwest A&F University, one of China’s leading agricultural institutions. He later became the founding dean and now serves as the lifetime honorary dean of the College of Enology at the same university. His efforts led to the creation of China’s first viticulture and enology major and the establishment of the first Enology College in Asia. In addition to his academic leadership, Prof. Hua holds key industry roles, including President of the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology Wine Branch and Director of the China Wine Industry Technology Institute. Through these positions, he has actively influenced national policy, industry standards, and academic frameworks, while also fostering industry-academia collaboration. His career is marked by an exceptional blend of institutional leadership, industry engagement, and a dedication to educational reform.

Research Interest

Prof. Hua Li’s research interests center around viticulture, enology, wine quality control, and sustainable wine production systems. He has been a pioneering force in developing the scientific foundations of China’s wine industry. His research has led to significant breakthroughs, including the establishment of the “from land to table” quality control system, which ensures the consistent production of high-quality wine grapes and wines across various Chinese regions. He is especially interested in optimizing grape varieties to suit diverse Chinese climates and terroirs, developing modern wine processing technologies, and integrating traditional knowledge with international best practices. His work also involves technology promotion and wine culture communication, ensuring that scientific advances benefit both producers and consumers. His practical research applications have had widespread impact, helping transform China from a non-traditional wine country into a globally recognized wine producer. His contributions have laid a solid theoretical and practical framework for future research in this domain.

Award and Honor

Prof. Hua Li has received numerous prestigious awards and honors that reflect the depth and impact of his contributions. Among the most significant are the National Famous Teacher Award and the Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award (2016). He was honored with the National May 1st Labor Medal and named a National Advanced Science and Technology Worker. His early contributions were also recognized through awards like the Outstanding Contribution Award and the title of “Young and Middle-aged Expert with Remarkable Contributions.” He was among the “60 Prominent Persons” for promoting China’s wine industry and one of the “30 Leading Figures” in wine during the 30 years of China’s Reform and Opening-Up. Furthermore, he has held memberships in important national bodies, including the Food Safety Expert Committee of the State Council and multiple academic societies. These accolades affirm his role as a leader and visionary in Chinese agriculture and enology.

Conclusion

Prof. Dr. Hua Li’s lifelong dedication to viticulture and enology has made him a transformative figure in both academic and industrial sectors. His groundbreaking efforts in founding China’s first wine-related academic programs, promoting scientific research, and leading industry-wide technological innovations have reshaped the perception and capabilities of China’s wine industry. With an educational background that bridges East and West and a professional portfolio spanning academia, policy, and enterprise, Prof. Hua has elevated China to the ranks of global wine-producing nations. His extensive list of awards and influential leadership roles underscores his enduring impact. Beyond his tangible achievements, he has mentored generations of experts who continue to drive the field forward. Prof. Hua Li exemplifies the values of vision, innovation, and service, making him not only a deserving candidate for a Lifetime Achievement Award but also a symbol of China’s potential in integrating tradition with modern scientific excellence.

Publications Top Notes

1. Title: Review on Legal Supervision System of the Chinese Wine Industry

   • Authors: Chenlu Yang, Rui Song, Yinting Ding, Liang Zhang, Hua Wang, Hua Li

   • Year: 2022

   • Citation:
     Yang, C., Song, R., Ding, Y., Zhang, L., Wang, H., & Li, H. (2022). Review on Legal Supervision System of the Chinese Wine Industry. Horticulturae, 8(5), 432. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8050432

2. Title: Identification and Regionalization of Cold Resistance of Wine Grape Germplasms (V. vinifera)

   • Authors: Zhilei Wang, Ying Wang, Dong Wu, Miao Hui, Xing Han, Tingting Xue, Fei Yao, Feifei Gao, Xiao Cao, Hua Li, et al.

   • Year: 2021

   • Citation:
     Wang, Z., Wang, Y., Wu, D., Hui, M., Han, X., Xue, T., Yao, F., Gao, F., Cao, X., Li, H., et al. (2021). Identification and Regionalization of Cold Resistance of Wine Grape Germplasms (V. vinifera). Agriculture, 11(11), 1117. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11111117

3. Title: A Sustainable Viticulture Method Adapted to the Cold Climate Zone in China

   • Authors: Xing Han, Tingting Xue, Xu Liu, Zhilei Wang, Liang Zhang, Ying Wang, Fei Yao, Hua Wang, Hua Li

   • Year: 2021

   • Citation:
     Han, X., Xue, T., Liu, X., Wang, Z., Zhang, L., Wang, Y., Yao, F., Wang, H., & Li, H. (2021). A Sustainable Viticulture Method Adapted to the Cold Climate Zone in China. Horticulturae, 7(6), 150. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7060150

4. Title: Carbon Storage Distribution Characteristics of Vineyard Ecosystems in Hongsibu, Ningxia

   • Authors: Liang Zhang, Tingting Xue, Feifei Gao, Ruteng Wei, Zhilei Wang, Hua Li, Hua Wang

   • Year: 2021

   • Citation:
     Zhang, L., Xue, T., Gao, F., Wei, R., Wang, Z., Li, H., & Wang, H. (2021). Carbon Storage Distribution Characteristics of Vineyard Ecosystems in Hongsibu, Ningxia. Plants, 10(6), 1199. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061199

5. Title: Combating Desertification through the Wine Industry in Hongsibu, Ningxia

   • Authors: Liang Zhang, Zhilei Wang, Tingting Xue, Feifei Gao, Ruteng Wei, Ying Wang, Xing Han, Hua Li, Hua Wang

   • Year: 2021

   • Citation:
     Zhang, L., Wang, Z., Xue, T., Gao, F., Wei, R., Wang, Y., Han, X., Li, H., & Wang, H. (2021). Combating Desertification through the Wine Industry in Hongsibu, Ningxia. Sustainability, 13(10), 5654. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105654