On July 7th, 2008, Professor Hongjie Di from Lincoln University, New Zealand, was appointed as a Visiting Professor of the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture (ISA). Kelin Wang, director of ISA, issued the engagement letter and gave a warm speech, with the desire of enhancing cooperation research in the field of agriculture and environment for both sides. Later, professor Di made an academic presentation entitled "New Zealand agriculture, environmental impact and management measurements", introduced at length the latest technology and research progresses in reduction and control of New Zealand agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. During his visit, Professor Di undertook a wide range of the exchange with the researchers and postgraduates.

Hongjie Di is the professor of the College of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Lincoln University, New Zealand, academician of New Zealand Academy of Sciences, foreign assessment expert assigned by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Education. He has been awarded the 2008 New Zealand Order of Merit issued by Queen Elizabeth II, owing to his outstanding achievements in the fields of the agricultural non-point source contaminants on groundwater and surface water pollution research and control, loss of soil nitrate, emission and control of N2O, and management of pesticide pollution. (Jul. 14, 2008)