[ad_1]
China harvested its first batch of “space rice” from seeds that returned from a lunar trip last year, scientists hoping it could help create new plant varieties and protect the country’s food security. country.
The crop was grown from the 40 grams of seeds that traveled with the Chang’e-5 lunar probe in November, according to state television reported. More testing and planting is needed to determine the best varieties that could be promoted nationally to help improve China’s grain harvest.
China has emphasized food security and supply over the past year, increasing imports and urging greater self-sufficiency in staple crops to feed its population of 1.4 billion. . The seed sector is a mainstay of this push, with the government approving a plan on Friday to make seed sourcing a matter of strategic security and the promise of support for research and agricultural projects.
The country took seeds of rice and other crops in space since 1987. More than 200 varieties of space plants, including cotton and tomatoes, have been approved for planting. In 2018, the total plantation area for space crops approved in China has reached more than 2.4 million hectares, according to state media.
After being exposed to cosmic radiation and weightlessness, some seeds can mutate and produce higher yields when replanted on Earth. It could take three to four years for space rice to hit the market, Global Times said, citing an official at the Space Selection Research Center.
– With the help of John Liu and Shuping Niu
[ad_2]
Source link