Prof. Dr. Hongning Tong was graduated with a bachelor's degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2002, obtained a Ph.D. from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2010, and served as an assistant researcher thereafter. Promoted to associate researcher in 2013, he visited Iowa State University from June to September 2014. Since December 2016, he has been a principal investigator at the Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and is currently the chief scientist of the innovation team focused on the exploration and innovative use of superior rice germplasm resources. He has received funding from the National "Outstanding Youth" program and has been recognized as a leading talent by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. He was awarded the Chinese Society of Agronomy Youth Science and Technology Award. His research aims to explore genetic resources in rice germplasm, elucidate the molecular genetic mechanisms regulating important rice traits influenced by the plant hormones such as brassinosteroid and cytokinin, and develop hormone molecular design applications. He has published 32 papers as a corresponding or first (including co-corresponding or co-first) author in journals such as Science, Plant Cell, and Molecular Plant, and has been granted five patents as the first inventor. In 2023, he was recognized as a "Highly Cited Researcher" by Clarivate.

The increasing global population and intensifying climate challenges necessitate the development of resilient crops with high, stable yields. Plant hormones play a crucial role in regulating agronomic traits and enhancing stress resistance. The effectiveness of hormone-related genes in crop improvement is well established; for instance, gibberellin-related dwarfing genes significantly boosted grain yields during the Green Revolution. However, the diverse goals of modern agriculture present both opportunities and challenges for seed innovation that can be achieved by modulating multifaceted hormones such as brassinosteroids and cytokinins. Recent research, particularly in the model crop rice, has provided promising strategies for leveraging hormone regulatory molecules in seed breeding innovation. Advancing our understanding of plant hormones is vital for successfully implementing these strategies and creating opportunities to address future challenges in an ever-changing world.