'Seawater rice' may help fill food gap

Chinese agricultural researchers have selected 176 strains of saltwater-tolerant rice out of more than 1,000 candidates from experimental paddies and expect them to be widely planted across the country in further trials this year.

Experts said this marks a major step forward in the development of resistant rice strains in China.

Rice that can thrive in a saline-alkali environment - so-called seawater rice - is designed to grow in tidal flats or other areas with heavy saline-alkaline content.