Jean Louis Morel, professor emeritus at the University of Lorraine and associate professor at Sun Yat-sen University, was awarded the Friendship Award by the Chinese government on September 30, 2026, in Beijing. This distinction, presented to fifty foreign experts this year, acknowledges his commitment to scientific cooperation between France and China.
For over two decades, teams from the University of Lorraine, INRAE, and Sun Yat-sen University have collaborated to better understand soil pollution and find solutions for restoration. Their research focuses on soils contaminated by metals, risks to plants and crops, and land remediation. The objective is to preserve the environment while promoting the safe use of agricultural land. These joint efforts contributed to receiving China's second national prize for scientific progress in 2023.
Established in 2015, the international associated laboratory Ecoland structures this collaboration, which since 2023 includes the South China Agricultural University. Research efforts aim to produce healthy food on polluted soils, restore degraded land, and use plants to extract and valorize metals from soils. A new generation of researchers is now continuing this work and developing new projects, particularly on carbon storage.
Jean Louis Morel emphasizes the importance of this knowledge transfer for extending the scientific and human connections built over the years and opening new research avenues.
Jean Louis Morel's dedication to Franco-Chinese relations extends beyond laboratories. In 2024, marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and China, he cycled from Canton to Beijing, supported by Sun Yat-sen University and its partners. This journey allowed him to experience China differently and connect with residents, students, researchers, and cyclists, sharing his commitment to environmental protection, cycling, and friendship between peoples.
Morel views this award primarily as recognition of collective work, made possible by the dedication of researchers, students, and staff from partner institutions, highlighting the importance of trust, dialogue, and mutual respect for long-term joint projects. This distinction encourages teams to continue their research and pass on their experience to younger generations, contributing to land restoration and natural resource preservation amidst soil degradation.
