Professor Liu Mengjun is a globally recognized scholar in jujube science and the former Chairman of the Workgroup Jujube, International Society of Horticultural Sciences (ISHS). He has dedicated 41 years to pioneering research and innovation addressing critical technological needs in jujube industry. The transformative work of his research team has been instrumental in scaling jujube from a minor crop into an over 10 billion-dollar industry – significantly contributing to the poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in jujube growing regions. Prof. Liu’s exceptional contributions are marked by prestigious accolades including two National Science and Technology Progress Awards, the Ho Leung Ho Lee Prize, the China Agricultural Talent Award, and the Hebei Provincial Outstanding Contribution Award in Science and Technology. His prolific output includes releasing 21 new jujube cultivars, securing 32 invention patents, establishing 2 National Forestry Industry Standards, publishing 381 scientific papers (including 62 in TOP journals), and editing 10 academic books. He was elected as an Academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and the Romanian Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, president of the Dried Fruit Branch, Chinese Society for Horticultural Science, and the Chairperson of the International Cultivar Registration Authority of ISHS for Jujube, solidifying his status as the principal academic leader in jujube, both within China and over the world.