Inner Mongolia’s desert control efforts have made it China’s top source of Cistanche, a medicinal plant, boosting local economy and ecology.

In Inner Mongolia’s Alxa League, decades of desertification control have transformed the Ulan Buh Desert into a productive landscape centered on Cistanche deserticola, or “desert ginseng.” Over 100 million mu of sandy land have been treated, with saxaul forests now covering more than 24 million mu, boosting survival rates to over 90% through cooperative farming and standardized methods. The region supplies over 90% of China’s Cistanche, supporting thousands of families. A 2023 policy allowing Cistanche in both medicine and food spurred growth, leading to over 22 processing companies and more than 100 products, with the industry’s value projected to exceed 2.5 billion yuan in 2025.