FAFU guides key regenerative rice cultivation techniques. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) has established the province's first overseas agricultural technology hub in Penang, Malaysia, marking a new step in China–Malaysia agricultural cooperation focused on regenerative rice and specialty crops.

The facility, named "Penang, Malaysia Specialty Crops Agro-Tech Hub", was launched following an on-site visit by a regenerative rice technology team led by Professor Lin Wenxiong of FAFU, at the invitation of the Penang State Department of Agriculture and related institutions. The hub is expected to support field-based research, technology adaptation, and academic exchange in tropical agricultural systems.

During their stay in Malaysia, Lin's team engaged with local agricultural research institutions and enterprises through discussions and field surveys of rice-growing conditions. They provided on-site technical guidance tailored to Penang's tropical climate and soil characteristics to support localized application of regenerative rice technologies.

"Our goal is to plant the seeds of Chinese regenerative rice in Malaysian soil to bolster local yields and farmer incomes," said Zhang Zhixing, head of FAFU's Institute of Agroecology.

A regenerative rice field. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In Fujian, regenerative rice planting expanded by about 20,000 mu (1,340 hectares) in 2025, bringing the total area to more than 200,000 mu. The technology consistently broke yield records while reducing fertilizer use by 20 percent and irrigation water consumption by 15 percent between 2021 and 2025. Crucially, the system cut carbon footprints by up to 24 percent, offering a sustainable model for tropical agriculture.