People pay homage to deceased scientist Yuan Longping at Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, May 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)

CHANGSHA, May 24 -- China on Monday morning held a memorial service to bid farewell to Yuan Longping, known as the "father of hybrid rice," who passed away on Saturday.

Despite being a busy work day, thousands of people dressed in black showed up and laid flowers at the site before the service began at 10 a.m. in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province.

The top rice scientist, who in 1973 developed the first high-yield hybrid rice strain, died of organ failure at 91 in Changsha.

The agronomist spent over five decades researching and improving hybrid rice, which has reached its third generation, helping China work a great wonder -- feeding nearly one-fifth of the world's population with less than 9 percent of the world's total arable land.

His lifelong dedication to reducing hunger made him a household name in China, where getting enough to eat was once a serious problem. In 2019, Yuan was awarded the Medal of the Republic, China's highest state honor.