Juncao plants a seed of hope for intl students

On a Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University campus in East China's Fujian province, Fuke Hako, a master's degree student in microbiology from Papua New Guinea, gazed up at a cluster of giant Juncao grass towering above him.

For Hako, this pioneering plant embodies a deeply cherished grassroots ambition: establishing a "Juncao primary school" that caters to Grades 1 to 6 in his remote home village.

"My vision for this is to teach small children about this technology and help them know about farming and entrepreneurship when they are still small," Hako said.

Hako is among a growing cohort of young international researchers journeying to China to master Juncao — which translates to "mushroom grass".

Invented in 1986 by Lin Zhanxi, chief scientist at the university's China National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, the eco-friendly methodology utilizes herbaceous plants instead of traditional timber to cultivate high-yield edible fungi.

To date, 118 countries have benefited from the Juncao technology through the training of over 23,000 participants and the establishment of demonstration sites across 23 nations.

Its contribution to poverty alleviation has earned recognition from several international organizations as a global best practice.

Across partner countries with demonstration sites, resident Chinese experts tailor technical frameworks to align with local customs and regional agricultural climates. This deep grassroots collaboration has led rural populations to affectionately embrace the plant as "the grass of happiness", with some families choosing to name their newborn children "Juncao".

To sustain the burgeoning pool of international talent, the university officially launched the International College of Juncao Science in June, which marked the 40th anniversary of the technology's invention and nearly a decade of its status as a priority initiative under the China-UN Peace and Development Trust Fund.

Lin Dongmei, professor and vice-dean of the college, noted that short-term training workshops can no longer satisfy the growing overseas demand for long-term, structured professional expertise.

Developing nations urgently require versatile professionals who are not only skilled in core technical operations but are also well-versed in international cooperation protocols and capable of managing overseas demonstration bases, Lin said.

The institution offers comprehensive master's and doctoral degree programs, prioritizing developing economies across Africa, Pacific Island countries, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, she said.

She explained that students complete theoretical coursework and laboratory training in China before completing field assignments at home demonstration bases. Under the guidance of resident Chinese experts, this hands-on approach ensures graduates can independently drive technological R&D and industrial promotion.

"The greatest gratification is seeing ordinary people gain the capacity for self-determined development through Juncao, holding their destinies in their own hands," Lin said. "Students are not merely learning a farming technique; they are building the confidence to be self-reliant."

"Impoverished women no longer rely on others for income, young people do not have to leave their hometowns for work, and remote villages no longer wait for foreign relief," she added.

More importantly, the trainees become grassroots ambassadors. Upon returning home, they voluntarily train their neighbors, forming a local network that ripples through communities, said Lin. "This is how China's poverty reduction experience truly takes root overseas."

For Ben Menda Ukii, another student from Papua New Guinea, who has spent three years pursuing his master's degree in biology at the Fujian university, the Juncao technology has become a family legacy.

Ukii first learned about the technology through his father, who has been actively involved in its deployment since its arrival in his country. "Growing up, I witnessed firsthand how this technology positively impacted local communities," he said.

His hard work in the Chinese lab paid off when he published a breakthrough research article.

He developed a method for cultivating oyster mushrooms by recycling waste coffee parchment in Papua New Guinea.

"I aim to transform waste coffee parchment into edible mushrooms, thereby adding value to agricultural by-products," Ukii said.

He plans to expand this methodology to remote, underserved areas, actively onboarding local youth and women to enhance their economic independence.

Beyond mushroom cultivation, Ukii intends to promote Juncao grass as high-quality animal feed and utilize it for mine rehabilitation and soil erosion control.

"My country faces serious environmental challenges due to mining," he said.

"This technology offers sustainable solutions to both economic and environmental problems."

Lu Yan contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at zhangyi1@chinadaily.com.cn