Prof Li has developed cutting-edge breeding technologies & commercially released benchmark barley varieties, transforming Australia from a low-price commodity provider to a premium, global supplier. He was instrumental in developing China’s $1 billion malting barley market for the barley industry, collaborating with major customers to enrich their understanding of Australia’s new varieties & providing technical guidance. He is a world leader in genomics breeding, developed DNA fingerprinting technology. His pioneering research on barley tolerance to acidic soil has laid a strong foundation to enhance the sustainability of the barley industry