Pingyi Sees A Seed Returning from Space Travel

In Pingyi County, Linyi City of Shandong Province, there is a town called Bianqiao. There, a big eye-catcher is the spectacular base for circular agriculture and industry: Yinhe Aerospace Demonstration Park. Established in March 2021, the park was jointly built by the National Aerospace Breeding Transformation Center and Lantian Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. 

The seeds returned from space are displayed in the green house, which look no different from ordinary seeds. In June 2021, they were selected and sent by Yinhe Aerospace Demonstration Park to be carried into space by the Shenzhou XII manned spacecraft, and successfully cultivated at the National Maize Improvement Center South Breeding Base after returning to earth. 

Through aerospace breeding using the method of palmette training system, tomatoes are grown with a coverage area of 150 square meters yielding 3000 kilograms of product.

The phase I project of the park covers an area of 550 mu （1 mu = 0.06 hectare） with an investment of 153 million yuan. The park enjoys the aerospace agricultural greenhouses, aerospace science education bases, and aerospace theme squares. Integrating aerospace technology display and breeding research, the park aims to create a high-leveled circular agricultural and industry. 

Currently, the third generation of the seeds is being cultivated, with a corn yield of up to 900 kilograms per mu, an increase of 60% compared to the traditional production.