The success of the wheat farm in Sharjah of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marks an important step in enhancing food self-sufficiency for the country.
The UAE has long relied on food imports, importing about 1.7 million tons of wheat each year.
Against the desert sands of Sharjah, the wheat farm, which applies desalinated water for irrigation, commenced operations in 2022 and is expected to expand to 1,900 hectares by the end of this year.
Experts report that a major milestone has been achieved with the successful cultivation of locally adapted wheat varieties in specialized breeding fields, tailored to thrive in the UAE's unique climate conditions.
Meanwhile, the smart irrigation system, which employs ground sensors and weather stations to monitor soil moisture in real time, enables the precise irrigation control to ensure healthy crop growth even under extreme conditions.
Furthermore, only a dozen workers are required to manage wheat cultivation on the 1,900-hectare farm, with irrigation and fertilization operations precisely controlled by advanced digital systems.
"We started planting in October till March, and within this season, as I mentioned, we have used state-of-the-art technologies. We have thermal satellite imagery, daily ones that can tell us more than 17 kinds of data that we can get out of it. For example, the soil moisture, the nitrogen in the soil, the water status of the soil and so on," explained Abdelaziz Hassooni, Programmer at the Sharjah Agriculture and Livestock Department.
In the future, this farm will not only supply the local market but may also become a model for desert agriculture, providing a reference for other regions.
Smart agricultural technology turns deserts into farmlands in UAE
Smart agricultural technology turns deserts into farmlands in UAE
After more than three months at sea, members of China's 16th Arctic Ocean expedition have jointly created a painting that captures both the triumphs and trials of polar scientific research.
Organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the expedition deployed four ships, Xuelong, Xuelong 2, Jidi, and Tansuo 3, to study extreme environmental changes in the Arctic against the backdrop of accelerating global warming. On September 29, Xuelong and Xuelong 2 returned to Shanghai after completing their missions.
During the voyage, China Media Group (CMG) reporters aboard Xuelong invited nearly 100 crew members to collaborate on a canvas, sharing their experiences. The painting depicts the difficulties and challenges they faced, the honors and expectations of their research, and the images of those dedicated to science.
Before any crew member ever picked up a brush, the Arctic had already sketched the background with its extreme weather. Strong winds, torrents, and a harsh environment posed major challenges for the researchers.
"After staying outside for some five or ten minutes, our hands would already be frozen red. When we reached the trough of the waves [on a boat], it would look as if the waves were coming right over our heads," recalled Zhu Chengwei, an expedition member.
Despite the hardship, the researchers successfully tested and used domestically produced advanced ocean observation equipment in polar research -- one of their proudest moments, which they recorded on the canvas.
Qin Chuan, captain of the Xuelong ocean team, chose to paint a domestically produced monitor float.
"This is an Argo float we deployed, which automatically monitors ocean profiles. It has great significance for understanding the basic marine environment, and it's made in China," he said.
Xie Haixiang, director of the Xuelong laboratory, sketched a fundamental research equipment for the trip.
"I will draw a CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth instrument). The CTD is the most important equipment for ocean surveys, providing the most basic data and water samples," he said.
"Only by carrying equipment onto the Arctic sea ice yourself and lowering the instruments, can you get what you want. For instance, we take a little ocean water, and analyze what's in it, to understand the changes each year. Global warming needs to be understood through different dimensions," recalled researcher Zhu.
Beyond the canvas, what stands out even more striking are the moments of dedication: veteran members leading newcomers onto the ice, a group holding its ground in level-8 gales and heavy snow, and 30 people relaying to recover equipment stuck in the ice.
The most important element, beyond any record or image in the painting, is this group of expedition members who fear no hardship.
"Whenever I think of the polar spirit, countless images of those standing at the very front would flash before my eyes," Zhu said.
"What we have done today will benefit future generations. Although we are doing something that may seem very insignificant, I believe it will surely prove its worth in the future,"said Ning Wenfeng, another team member.
China's 16th Arctic expedition crews paint portrait of proud polar expedition moments, hardships
