How One Chinese County Is Rethinking the Future of Farming

Anqiu County in Shandong Province is a major vegetable production and export hub. Zhang Weitao's Heli Ranch uses a closed-loop farming system, converting livestock waste into biogas and organic fertilizer, raising soil organic matter above 10% and quintupling wheat yields. Smartphone-controlled greenhouses reduce manual labor. Land degradation affects 1.7 billion people globally, but restoring 10% of degraded croplands could boost global food supply.