China's Hollow Villages Undergo a Transformation

As an agricultural engineering professor, I was excited to visit and tour the farm village Houbali, in southwestern Shandong Province. I found myself standing among newly constructed high-rise buildings, a vastly different community than I had expected to encounter. A bicycle repair shop was setting up alongside other bustling businesses in the first-floor storefronts. 


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  1. Plastic mulch research

    Aug 25, 2025

    Two new research articles have been published on the impact of agricultural plastic mulch on plant growth and the environment. Learn more about biodegradable mulch to grow rice and the sustainability of plastic mulch in agriculture

  2. Upscaling food waste to animal feed

    Aug 19, 2025

     A third of the world's food is wasted, accounting 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Japan has taken the lead and China is following in converting food waste to animal feed to reduce their reliance on grain imports. Learn more at

  3. Agricultural plastic pollution - US and China

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    This podcast explores the evolution of plastic mulch use, the growing concern over microplastics in soil, and innovative strategies to mitigate plastic waste in farming. Dr. Mancl also discusses the role of biodegradable plastics, global policies, and the importance of U.S.-China collaboration in addressing agricultural plastic pollution.

  4. US Agricultural Success Built of US-China Scientific Exchange

    Dec 10, 2024

    Amid escalating US-China cpmpetition, agricultural scientific research and exchanges stand out as one of the few remaining bridges bewteen the two nations. Read more

  5. US - China Agri Dynamics

    May 1, 2024

    In a podcast, Dr Mancl shares insights from her research and experiences, highlighting the critical role of international cooperation in advancing agriculture. View the podcast

  6. Green Alliances: US and Chinese Climate Leadership in Agriculture

    Apr 18, 2024

    Karen Mancl along with Jennifer Turner, Director of the China Environment Forum at the Wilson Center presented a webinar sponsored by the US Heartland China Association. View the webinar on Youtube

  7. US-China Science and Technology Agreement is Rooted in Agriculture

    Feb 26, 2024

    Since the early 1970s the United States and China have exchanged teams of agricultural scientists to explore solutions to food security issues. Sadly the Science and Technology agreement expired in August 2023 and is operating on just a 6-month extension. Learn more

  8. A Commune in Rural Iowa Inspires Reform in China's Countryside

    Jan 18, 2024

    US-China agricultural exchanges have had unexpected, far-reaching impacts. In 1980, Guangdong Governor Xi Zhongxun’s visit to an agricultural commune in Iowa inspired him as he worked to reform China’s rural commune system, planting the seeds for his son, Xi Jinping, to take two visits to Iowa. Read more

  9. US/China Ag Climate Roadmap

    Jan 12, 2024

    This new project has engaged with US and Chinese agriculture, food system, and climate experts to: (1) illustrate the complex climate footprint of agriculture and (2) highlight opportunities for bilateral cooperation on policies, projects and strategies to reduce agriculture's climate footprint. Read more at Cultivating US and Chinese Climate Leadership on Food and Agriculture: A Roadmap for Collaboration

  10. Every landowner can protect Lake Erie

    Aug 1, 2023

    Research at Ohio State University studied ways to eliminate the discharge of nutrients from septic systems. The research revealed that year-round onsite irrigation systems are an effective approach. Irrigating the treated wastewater on lawns and landscaping reuses the nutrients to grow plants and keeps nitrogen and phosphorus from discharging into waterways. Learn more in an article in the Ohio Country Journal

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