Scientists have successfully grown rice in the harsh deserts of China’s Xinjiang region in half the time compared to conventional farming methods, a major step in the country’s campaign to ensure food security.

https://archive.fo/8TgoV

  • BeamBrain [he/him]
    ·
    5 months ago

    China is basically the only reason I have any hope for the future.

  • CarbonScored [any]
    ·
    5 months ago

    Interesting - Wide scale trials to improve food production is the cool stuff of the future, nice to see some success.

    Based on the article, looks like Xinjiang has actually been fairly fucked over by the US' strict trade restrictions, so they've had to resort to a very sudden change in crops which has destabilised local food and farming prices. Hopefully China's efforts bear more fruit yet.

    • Teekeeus [comrade/them]
      ·
      5 months ago

      Ironically the trade restrictions are probably beneficial in the long run since it's pushed China to improve agricultural processes and food security

      It's the russia sanctions all over again

  • Dolores [love/loves]
    ·
    5 months ago

    oh its in greenhouses, i don't think that's as impressive. however in an arid region with more limited arable areas, the cost proposition to putting a large proportion of it in greenhouses is a lot more favorable.

    • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmy.ml
      ·
      5 months ago

      Presumably using greenhouses also makes it possible to maintained a controlled environment in case of extreme weather which will be an ongoing problem going forward.

      • Dolores [love/loves]
        ·
        5 months ago

        yeah that's going to have to happen a lot more with 'unseasonable' damaging conditions occurring at important early & late phases of the crop, starting it out in arid areas with smaller & strictly delineated arable spaces, and centrally managed irrigation resources is a good path.