Guangxi's selenium-rich soil ranks first in China, reaches 7.6 million hectares

(ECNS) -- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China boasts 114 million mu (7.6 million hectares) of selenium-rich soil, the largest area nationally, said Liu Yongxian, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Guangxi, on Sunday.

By the end of 2024, the region had developed 1.45 million mu of selenium-rich agricultural land, while 678 agricultural products have been certified with selenium-rich identification, Liu said at the third session of 13th CPPCC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee.

In recent years, a team led by Liu have pioneered innovative technologies, including selenium activation in soil, which have overcome key challenges in the standardized production of selenium-enriched specialty crops.

Their work has not only addressed the difficulty of cultivating standardized selenium-enriched agricultural products but also alleviated the issue of selenium coexisting with heavy metals, filling a significant gap in domestic agricultural technology.

Several selenium-enriched agricultural industrial technology demonstration parks have been established across Guangxi Province, transforming associated local resources into an industry advantage, according to Liu.

Currently, Nandan County in Hechi City has set up a selenium-enriched organic rice production base, and the Qin Tang District in Guigang City is developing a modern agricultural technology park for selenium-enriched foods.

Currently, selenium-enriched rice and glutinous corn are gaining global popularity.