*Above Image Source

​A majority of the following information was extracted from the video at the end of this article.

 A Solution for Desertification

Crops like corn, tomato, sorghum, and sunflowers transforming more than 200 hectares of sand dunes into an oasis all within 6 months. There are over 70 kinds of crops growing – many are not planted by people, but grow naturally. This is all thanks to new technology developed by researchers at a Chinese University. They developed a paste made from a substance found naturally in plant cell walls. When it’s added to sand it is able to retain water, nutrients, and air.

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The research team has big future plans to transform 13,000 more hectares in the next few years. By 2030 the UN is aiming to reach 0 growth of desert farmland around the world so China’s breakthrough experiment in converting sand to soil is promising for transforming land seemingly hostile to life into fertile ground.

​The operation is solar powered by one of the largest solar energy farms in the world – a station that generates 500 million kilowatt hours ever year. This is all part of an effort to roll back desertification.

What are some of the methods used? They discovered growing licorice for Chinese herb medicine in difficult terrain is not only good for business but for the environment as well. Licorice shrubs are “nitrogen fixing” putting nitrogen into the soil, from their root nodules. After the land has been planted with licorice, it can quickly change to soil and be stem fertile for agriculture.

Today hundreds of different bird breeds have settled here. Local herdsmen call them beautiful angels and try hard to protect them so their numbers are likely to rise in the coming years. Thousands of acres of desert have been stabilized. Another benefit is that the frequency of sandstorms nationwide have declined significantly. You can learn more details about this inspiring project in the below video.

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Below is an aerial photo taken on June 9, 2018 shows wetlands formed by water of the Yellow River in flood period at the Kubuqi Desert in Hangjin Banner, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Kubuqi, the seventh largest desert in China, is a good example of China’s success in alleviating desertification. About 6,460 square kilometers of the Kubuqi desert has been reclaimed in the last 30 years. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan) (source)

VIDEO: Watch This New Technology in China That Converts Desert Into Productive Land Rich With Crops (Source: Richard Aguilar @ Youtube)