There has of course been some controversy, the most legitimate criticism I've seen is concerns about technical advances tying farmers to an infrastructure that might then fail them - they can't generate their own seed from the hybrid stock is the issue I believe. The debate was fairly frank and respectful as I recall, think Yuan had not foreseen the commercial turn of even state efforts here and not sure what model applied in the various programmes overseas, but it's pretty much beyond question he played a massive role in a move from endemic famine to secure food in only a few generations.
