File photo taken on July 27, 2015 shows salix planted by locals in the Kubuqi Desert. The plant is good for desertification control, with a survival rate of about 80 percent.[Photo by Lian Zhen/Xinhua]

At the forum, the company shared its expertise in reclaiming land in desert regions by planting Chinese medicinal herbs such as licorice.

Licorice is drought tolerant and can grow on uncultivated land, making it ideal for optimizing desert soil properties.

The legume bacteria living around licorice plants' roots have a nitrogen fixation effect, increasing the soil's fertility.

One licorice plant can help to reclaim 0.1 square meter of desert. Elion innovated the a new planting method, making one licorice tree capable of reclaiming 1 sq m of the land, 10 times more than before.