China is ramping up grass and it is paying off
Dec 02, 2024
This traditional music, sets the stage for a deeper understanding of the unique cultural and ecological experiences here. The lush grass underfoot represents the restored landscape—part of a larger effort to rehabilitate China’s grasslands.

Grassland scenery in Abag Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Raziah Athman
Journalist @New Vision
China’s massive grasslands have suffered degradation over the years, with 16 million herders depending on them for livelihoods. But grass seed production and focused ecological restoration are providing the healing these areas need.
M - Grass Ecology is at the center of the innovations and technology revolving around local origin insurance and ecological big data navigation. They are domesticating native plants while relying on germplasm resource reserves.
Up to 30 million mu of land has been restored. By 2022, grassland area had decreased to 260 million hectares from 400.
Bank Of Native Plant Germplasm Resources Of Inner Mongolia M Grass Ecology And Environment
Sounds of the Mongolian horsehead fiddle echo through the hallway as we walk to the lawn at the M-Grass Ecology and Environment Group in Hohhot. The Khoomei performer - Mongolian single singer - almost mesmerizes us but what dazzles us is the lash grass on which we walk for a closer interaction. It is a constructed ecological environment.
This traditional music, sets the stage for a deeper understanding of the unique cultural and ecological experiences here. The lush grass underfoot represents the restored landscape—part of a larger effort to rehabilitate China’s grasslands.
As Dongfang scholars visiting in September 2024, we are here to witness firsthand the strides being made in grassland restoration.
Rinah Talu From Kenya (left) And Raziah Athman (right) During Visit To Yili
Over the last few decades, the government has designed policies focused on finding ways to rehabilitate the degraded grasslands to sustain livestock production from them. Since 1950, average stocking rates across China have increased four-fold.
M – Grass Ecology is listed in China and it is the only company in its category dealing in grass technology.
Much of the premises is a display of all sorts of grass, at a distance outside, you can see the green on the roof of the structure and murals of grass.
The company also sells grass seeds and native plants, deals in photovoltaic power generation and construction of big data platforms. The Company's services can be used in various ecological environments such as mines, grasslands, deserts, and urban green spaces.
Focusing on grass, grassland, and grass industry, the M – grass model “promotes the diversified operating model of grass products, grassland ecology and grass industry production,” Guoshan Jiao, Director, M – Grass Ecology.
As a ripple effect, high-tech companies including Happy Grass and Grass Digital have been incubated. Together with the Inner Mongolia Branch of the National Forest and Grass Germplasm Resource Bank, the National Important Wild Plant Germplasm Resource Bank Little Grass Noah’s Arch, “60,000 plant germplasm resources of 2,200 species and 150,000 specimens, covering ecological restoration, forage grass, authentic Chinese herbs and characteristics,” Guoshan Jiao, Director, M – Grass Ecology.
But there is more work to be done.
Herdsman Operates Machine To Mow Grass On A Grassland In Xilin Gol League, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Efforts to restore these ecosystems have been gaining momentum since the early 2000s. M-Grass Ecology, a collaborative program, is leading the charge in finding sustainable solutions for grassland management. Their research emphasizes improving livestock production rather than simply focusing on stocking rates. By reducing the number of animals on the land by 50%, grasslands can recover, and herders see an increase in household income.
One of the key findings of the program is the importance of managing grasslands by maintaining critical herbage mass, which helps optimize plant diversity, reduce soil erosion, and promote healthier ecosystems.
Early summer rest periods and proper winter feeding for livestock are also crucial for long-term grassland health. Rather than relying on grazing bans, which can be ineffective, the program works with herders to optimize the current landscape.
Animal Husbandry Is Taking Place In The Endless Grasslands Of Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia (AFP))
Training herders to shift from survival-focused practices to production-oriented strategies is a central goal. This includes developing better markets for livestock, offering financial support, and revising land tenure systems to allow herders to expand grazing areas. By combining these efforts, M-Grass Ecology is fostering the recovery of Inner Mongolia’s grasslands, ensuring they remain vital for generations to come.
Not far from M – Grass, Yili Modern Intelligent Health Valley lives is on a mission that puts ecology first. The company has invested more than $14 million into an industrial cluster. The project is divided into a startup area of 10 square kilometers, a development area of 38 square kilometers, and a collaborative development area of 120 square kilometers.
2024 Dongfang Scholars Visit Yili Modern Intelligent Health Valley
“The valley is mainly driven by ecological, dairy and health industries, and forms a framework integrating businesses on plantation, cows and raw milk, intelligent manufacturing, scientific and technological innovation, culture and tourism, and commercial activities.” It is a new model of city that accommodates production, everyday life and ecology is a coordinated way.
Along the Yellow River, protection by the grass is crucial.
China holds more grasslands than any other country, mostly covering Inner Mongolia in the north-east of the country. With swathes spread across 41% of the national land area, grass accounts for the largest land resource.