Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU), located in Wuhan, the capital of central China’s Hubei Province, is a national key university. Starting life as the Hupeh Agricultural College founded in 1898 by Zhang Zhidong, the viceroy of Hubei and Hunan in the Qing dynasty, HZAU is a leading light for higher education in agriculture. These days, as a research university focused on agricultural and life sciences, HZAU has a balanced range of disciplines. Dedicated to higher education, research and social service, HZAU seeks to meet sustainable development goals with advanced agricultural research and technologies. Here, Deng Xiuxin, HZAU’s president, outlines its vision.