China, with the world's largest desertified land area, is taking steps to improve food security by successfully growing wheat in desert conditions using advanced cultivation and water management techniques. The Wuzheng group, based in Shandong province, has developed a method to grow wheat in the desert by increasing the application of organic matter and soil conditioners, and by adopting 'fertigation' technology. The region's grain planting area in 2023 reached 2.8 million hectares, and its annual grain output in 2023 was a record 21.2 million tonnes. The goal is to expand the desert wheat planting area to beyond 3,300 hectares within five years.