China has begun cultivating military-grade rubber trees in the harsh Gobi Desert, transforming barren land into a strategic resource as global supply chains face increasing pressure from geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainties.
Far from the country’s traditional tropical rubber plantations, scientists are growing Duzhong (Eucommia ulmoides), a hardy tree long used in traditional medicine and now emerging as a key material for China’s industrial and defence needs. The initiative highlights Beijing’s push to cut dependence on foreign raw materials at a time when it remains the world’s largest consumer of natural rubber.
China’s demand for natural rubber, driven by its massive automotive, manufacturing and defence sectors, is estimated to exceed seven million tonnes annually, with more than 85 percent sourced from overseas. This heavy reliance on imports has made rubber a strategic vulnerability, especially as conflicts and trade disruptions reshape global supply chains.
Duzhong offers a domestic alternative. It is China’s only native rubber-producing tree and the world’s second-largest natural rubber resource. Rubber extracted from Duzhong has unique properties, making it especially valuable for high-performance and military applications.
Rubber derived from Duzhong has proven crucial for next-generation defence systems. Even small amounts, around three to five percent mixed into rubber compounds, can significantly improve durability and wear resistance in puncture-resistant tyres. The material is also used in advanced electromagnetic shielding composites, a critical component in modern military technology.
For decades, Duzhong cultivation was limited to central and southern China, mainly along the Yangtze Plain. Yields were modest, and rubber extraction was labour-intensive, preventing the tree from playing a major role in large-scale industrial supply chains.
That changed in 2016, when a research team led by Su Yinquan from Northwest A&F University leased 14 hectares of barren Gobi land in Xinjiang to test whether Duzhong could survive extreme desert conditions. It was the first time the tree had been planted in the region.
By last year, the once-empty land had turned into a dense and productive Duzhong forest. Researchers say the results surpassed expectations. China now grows Duzhong across roughly 300,000 hectares, with plans to expand cultivation to 3.3 million hectares by 2030, including an additional 300,000 hectares in Xinjiang alone.
Making Duzhong viable in the desert required major scientific breakthroughs. Researchers first focused on genetics, establishing a breeding base in Shaanxi to identify elite plant strains. More than 50 high-quality germplasms were screened and selectively bred to thrive in arid conditions while maintaining high rubber content.
The second challenge was extraction. Under China’s national development plan, rubber can be obtained from the tree’s fruit peel, bark and leaves, making full-plant use essential for commercial success. In November, scientists announced a new “rubber-priority” extraction process that uses eco-friendly solvents and biological treatment to separate rubber more efficiently.
The method significantly reduces energy use and chemical waste while producing high-purity rubber, making large-scale production both practical and sustainable.
As China accelerates this desert agriculture experiment, the Gobi’s Duzhong forests are becoming a symbol of how strategic crops and advanced engineering are being used to reshape supply chains, strengthen self-reliance and support the country’s growing industrial and military ambitions.