At Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in China’s Fujian province, international students from developing countries are embracing Juncao technology, a sustainable agricultural innovation originally developed by the university, as a pathway to local economic and environmental development in their home communities.
Juncao, which translates to “mushroom grass,” is an eco-friendly method that uses fast-growing herbaceous plants instead of timber to cultivate edible fungi. Created in 1986 by Lin Zhanxi, chief scientist at the university’s China National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, the technique has been adopted in 118 countries. It has supported poverty alleviation efforts through over 23,000 trained individuals and demonstration sites established in 23 nations, earning recognition from several international organizations.
Fuke Hako, a master’s student in microbiology from Papua New Guinea, views Juncao as a driver of community empowerment. He hopes to establish a primary school in his remote village to teach children about farming technology and entrepreneurship from an early age. “My vision for this is to teach small children about this technology and help them know about farming and entrepreneurship when they are still small,” Hako said.
To meet increasing international demand for expertise in Juncao, the university inaugurated the International College of Juncao Science in June, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the technology and nearly a decade under the China-United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund. The college offers comprehensive master's and doctoral degree programs focusing on developing economies across Africa, the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
Lin Dongmei, professor and vice-dean of the college, emphasized the need for trained professionals capable not only of technical operations but also of managing international cooperation and overseeing demonstration sites abroad. The programs combine theoretical coursework and laboratory training on campus with practical field assignments guided by resident Chinese experts at demonstration bases in the students’ home countries. This model aims to foster self-reliant development and sustainable knowledge transfer in rural communities.
One alumnus, Ben Menda Ukii, also from Papua New Guinea, developed a novel method to cultivate oyster mushrooms by recycling coffee parchment, an agricultural by-product. His approach has implications for both waste reduction and economic development. Ukii intends to extend this method to underserved regions while involving local youth and women to bolster economic independence. Additionally, he plans to promote the use of Juncao grass as animal feed and employ it in environmental restoration efforts such as mine rehabilitation and soil erosion control.
Advocates of the technology highlight its role in transforming rural livelihoods by empowering women and youth, reducing reliance on external aid, and fostering local entrepreneurship. Returning graduates serve as grassroots ambassadors who train neighbors and expand community knowledge networks, multiplying the technology’s reach.
As these international students prepare to apply their skills back home, they carry the potential to translate China’s poverty reduction experience into tangible benefits for their communities, addressing economic challenges alongside environmental concerns.