LensToLens | China’s Juncao technology sows seeds of hope in Africa

Juncao expert Chen Kehua (L) and a local technician check bags of mycelium at Central African Institute of Agronomic Research in Bangui, the Central African Republic, Feb. 6, 2024. Since the 1980s, Lin Zhanxi, a professor of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, has led a research team on Juncao technology in China’s southeastern Fujian Province.
Juncao means “mushroom” and “grass” in Chinese. Its versatility is a key feature, allowing it to grow edible mushrooms, provide livestock feed and help battle desertification.
Since the 1990s, China has shared the technology with over 100 countries by opening training classes and conducting on-site demonstrations.
By now, Juncao technology has taken root in more than 40 African countries, helping African farmers combat poverty and promoting cooperation between China and Africa. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Nyambo Obed checks mushroom tubes at his workshop in Muhanga District, Southern Province, Rwanda, on Aug. 14, 2024. Nyambo Obed has been to China twice for Juncao technology training. Since the 1980s, Lin Zhanxi, a professor of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, has led a research team on Juncao technology in China’s southeastern Fujian Province.
Juncao means “mushroom” and “grass” in Chinese. Its versatility is a key feature, allowing it to grow edible mushrooms, provide livestock feed and help battle desertification.
Since the 1990s, China has shared the technology with over 100 countries by opening training classes and conducting on-site demonstrations.
By now, Juncao technology has taken root in more than 40 African countries, helping African farmers combat poverty and promoting cooperation between China and Africa. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Lin Zhanxi lectures Juncao technology to participants of a training class at the China-Rwanda Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center in Huye District, Southern Province, Rwanda, on Aug. 4, 2024. Since the 1980s, Lin Zhanxi, a professor of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, has led a research team on Juncao technology in China’s southeastern Fujian Province.
Juncao means “mushroom” and “grass” in Chinese. Its versatility is a key feature, allowing it to grow edible mushrooms, provide livestock feed and help battle desertification.
Since the 1990s, China has shared the technology with over 100 countries by opening training classes and conducting on-site demonstrations.
By now, Juncao technology has taken root in more than 40 African countries, helping African farmers combat poverty and promoting cooperation between China and Africa. (Photo by Huang Wanqing/Xinhua)

A drone photo shows Juncao grass field in Beidou Village of Yongtai County in Fuzhou, southeast China’s Fujian Province, Aug. 21, 2024. Since the 1980s, Lin Zhanxi, a professor of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, has led a research team on Juncao technology in China’s southeastern Fujian Province.
Juncao means “mushroom” and “grass” in Chinese. Its versatility is a key feature, allowing it to grow edible mushrooms, provide livestock feed and help battle desertification.
Since the 1990s, China has shared the technology with over 100 countries by opening training classes and conducting on-site demonstrations.
By now, Juncao technology has taken root in more than 40 African countries, helping African farmers combat poverty and promoting cooperation between China and Africa. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

Fatime Abba Rekya checks bags of mycelium in Damara, the Central African Republic, Feb. 6, 2024. Fatime Abba Rekya learns Juncao technology on a training class in Bangui in 2022. Since the 1980s, Lin Zhanxi, a professor of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, has led a research team on Juncao technology in China’s southeastern Fujian Province.
Juncao means “mushroom” and “grass” in Chinese. Its versatility is a key feature, allowing it to grow edible mushrooms, provide livestock feed and help battle desertification.
Since the 1990s, China has shared the technology with over 100 countries by opening training classes and conducting on-site demonstrations.
By now, Juncao technology has taken root in more than 40 African countries, helping African farmers combat poverty and promoting cooperation between China and Africa. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

A farmer carries freshly harvested mushrooms out of a mushroom shed in Huye District, Southern Province, Rwanda, on Aug. 14, 2024. Since the 1980s, Lin Zhanxi, a professor of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, has led a research team on Juncao technology in China’s southeastern Fujian Province.
Juncao means “mushroom” and “grass” in Chinese. Its versatility is a key feature, allowing it to grow edible mushrooms, provide livestock feed and help battle desertification.
Since the 1990s, China has shared the technology with over 100 countries by opening training classes and conducting on-site demonstrations.
By now, Juncao technology has taken root in more than 40 African countries, helping African farmers combat poverty and promoting cooperation between China and Africa. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Fatime Abba Rekya is pictured at an edible mushroom cultivation workshop she established in Damara, the Central African Republic, Feb. 6, 2024. Fatime Abba Rekya learns Juncao technology on a training class in Bangui in 2022. Since the 1980s, Lin Zhanxi, a professor of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, has led a research team on Juncao technology in China’s southeastern Fujian Province.
Juncao means “mushroom” and “grass” in Chinese. Its versatility is a key feature, allowing it to grow edible mushrooms, provide livestock feed and help battle desertification.
Since the 1990s, China has shared the technology with over 100 countries by opening training classes and conducting on-site demonstrations.
By now, Juncao technology has taken root in more than 40 African countries, helping African farmers combat poverty and promoting cooperation between China and Africa. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Lin Zhanxi (R) introduces Juncao technology to Rwandan students at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in Fuzhou, southeast China’s Fujian Province, Aug. 26, 2024. Since the 1980s, Lin Zhanxi, a professor of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, has led a research team on Juncao technology in China’s southeastern Fujian Province.
Juncao means “mushroom” and “grass” in Chinese. Its versatility is a key feature, allowing it to grow edible mushrooms, provide livestock feed and help battle desertification.
Since the 1990s, China has shared the technology with over 100 countries by opening training classes and conducting on-site demonstrations.
By now, Juncao technology has taken root in more than 40 African countries, helping African farmers combat poverty and promoting cooperation between China and Africa. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

This photo taken on Aug. 15, 2024 shows a view of Juncao grass field in Huye District, Southern Province, Rwanda. Since the 1980s, Lin Zhanxi, a professor of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, has led a research team on Juncao technology in China’s southeastern Fujian Province.
Juncao means “mushroom” and “grass” in Chinese. Its versatility is a key feature, allowing it to grow edible mushrooms, provide livestock feed and help battle desertification.
Since the 1990s, China has shared the technology with over 100 countries by opening training classes and conducting on-site demonstrations.
By now, Juncao technology has taken root in more than 40 African countries, helping African farmers combat poverty and promoting cooperation between China and Africa. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

A worker cuts Juncao grass in Beidou Village of Yongtai County in Fuzhou, southeast China’s Fujian Province, Aug. 21, 2024. Since the 1980s, Lin Zhanxi, a professor of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, has led a research team on Juncao technology in China’s southeastern Fujian Province.
Juncao means “mushroom” and “grass” in Chinese. Its versatility is a key feature, allowing it to grow edible mushrooms, provide livestock feed and help battle desertification.
Since the 1990s, China has shared the technology with over 100 countries by opening training classes and conducting on-site demonstrations.
By now, Juncao technology has taken root in more than 40 African countries, helping African farmers combat poverty and promoting cooperation between China and Africa. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

Sheep eat Juncao grass in Beidou Village of Yongtai County in Fuzhou, southeast China’s Fujian Province, Aug. 21, 2024. Since the 1980s, Lin Zhanxi, a professor of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, has led a research team on Juncao technology in China’s southeastern Fujian Province.
Juncao means “mushroom” and “grass” in Chinese. Its versatility is a key feature, allowing it to grow edible mushrooms, provide livestock feed and help battle desertification.
Since the 1990s, China has shared the technology with over 100 countries by opening training classes and conducting on-site demonstrations.
By now, Juncao technology has taken root in more than 40 African countries, helping African farmers combat poverty and promoting cooperation between China and Africa. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)