Shaanxi Province, northwest China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of plants cultivated in space breeding center
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Guo Rui, director, Space Breeding Center (starting with shot 1):
"The growing time for the space breeding seeds is half of ordinary seeds."
3. Various of plants
4. Various of Guo talking with farmer at field
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wen Xianfang, professor, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (starting with shot 4):
"Unlike the genetically modified crops which are created by introducing genes from other species, space crops undergo a mutation of their own genes only with help of microgravity, high-energy particle and zero magnetic field."
6. Various of plants
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Guo Rui, director, Space Breeding Center (starting with shot 6):
"We cultivate a new species of apple for the Three-North Shelter Forest Program here. The preliminary preparations for the carrying work have been completed, and we are ready for the next retrievable satellite."
8. Seedlings cultivated at lab
9. Researchers working at lab
10. Various of farmers working at field

A space breeding center in Shaanxi province is cultivating plants with space breeding technology so as to upgrade ordinary seeds and resist the dry climate in northwest China.

The Sichuan peppers planted in the center look like the ones in every market, but they have a very interesting life story. They were planted after a visit to outer space. The seeds were put into orbit to be subject to conditions such as high radiation, high vacuum, low temperature, and weak gravity. They were then returned to be planted and grown on earth.

"The growing time for the space breeding seeds is half of ordinary seeds," said Guo Rui, director of the Space Breeding Center.

Care taker of the space breeding farm said that these dwarf peppers are easier to reap, and more resistant to pests and disease compared to ordinary ones.

"Unlike the genetically modified crops which are created by introducing genes from other species, space crops undergo a mutation of their own genes only with help of microgravity, high-energy particle and zero magnetic field," said Wen Xianfang, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

China's space breeding program started over 30 years ago. Since then, thousands of seeds of all types have made their trips to space. Recently, Guo Rui's team has been cultivating cash crop and tree species resistant to harsh environments.

"We cultivate a new species of apple for the Three-North Shelter Forest Program here. The preliminary preparations for the carrying work have been completed, and we are ready for the next retrievable satellite," said Guo.

By adding a little extraterrestrial help to cutting-edge research and technologies, the sky is the limit for China in its attempts to fight desertification and feed its people.