n a vast desert on the outskirts¹ of Dubai, Chinese scientists looked across a field of "drought resistant²" rice they had planted in sand and diluted³ seawater and realized that a four-decade struggle had come to an end.

在迪拜郊外的广袤沙漠中，中国科学家们眺望着一片他们种在沙子和稀释海水里的耐旱水稻，意识到长达40年的奋斗终于“开花结果”。

"The result was extremely satisfying," said Du Dele, an official at the Chinese research centre pioneering the salt-resistant rice, which many believe could solve food shortages in the world's most uncultivable regions.

首创耐盐水稻培育的中国研发中心的官员杜德乐表示：“结果令人非常满意。”许多人认为耐盐水稻可以解决世界上最贫瘠土地上的粮食短缺问题。

"We learned that we can grow rice in the desert, and we were very happy when we analysed the results and saw how much we can produce," he told The Telegraph.

杜德乐向《电讯报》透露：“我们了解到在沙漠里能种植水稻，而在对结果进行分析和目睹产量有多少之后，我们非常高兴。”

迪拜沙漠种出中国水稻

Scientists at the Sea-Rice Research and Development Centre in Qingdao, eastern China, produced more than 7.5 metric tons per hectare of one strain of salt-resistant rice, which was planted in the dusty emirate in January.

今年1月，中国东部青岛市海水稻研究发展中心的科学家们在这个满是沙漠的酋长国种植了一种耐盐水稻，如今每公顷产量超过了7.5吨。

China's "father of hybrid⁴ rice" Yuan Longping, who leads the Qingdao center, said the results were "better than he had expected", and his team is now seeking to expand its research.

中国“杂交水稻之父”袁隆平是青岛中心的负责人，他说，目前的成果“超出他的预期”，他的团队如今正在努力扩大研究。

Plans have been drawn⁵ up to establish a 100-hectare experimental farm later this year.

他们计划在今年晚些时候建一个占地100公顷的试验田。

The company will also establish "artificial oases⁶" across the Middle East and North Africa, which will benefit all Arab countries and help them get rid of poverty and hunger as well as improve the environment.

该中心还将在中东和北非打造“人工绿洲”，这将令所有阿拉伯国家受益，帮助他们摆脱贫困和饥饿，并改善环境。