On the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, a humble parasitic plant is emerging as an unlikely hero in China's arid northwest. Cistanche – nicknamed the "desert ginseng" – is turning shifting sands into sustainable opportunities across the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
For centuries, this drought-resistant plant has been prized in traditional medicine. Today, scientists and local communities are harnessing its unique properties to stabilize desert soils while creating lucrative value chains. CGTN's Liu Xiaoxian documented researchers cultivating Cistanche in specialized desert labs before transplanting seedlings to vast plantations where they thrive on host shrubs.
"Each root system acts like natural rebar," explained botanist Dr. Alimjan Abdurehim. "Cistanche networks bind the sand, reducing erosion while requiring minimal water."
The ecological benefits pair with economic promise. Over 8,000 hectares of Cistanche plantations now provide income for former herders through harvesting and processing. Pharmaceutical companies report surging demand for extracts used in immunity-boosting supplements – a market projected to reach $2.3 billion by 2028.
As desertification claims 12 million hectares globally each year, Xinjiang's model offers lessons in merging ecological restoration with community empowerment. With plans to expand plantations across 200,000 hectares by 2030, the desert ginseng story proves that sometimes, ancient wisdom grows the best solutions.
