Utah-Taihu Institute of Environmental Research

UTIER has partnered with several other research institutions to build a soil and agriculture laboratory on Chongming island. Chongming is an alluvial island on the delta of the Yangtze River. This research lab brings international scientists to Chongming to research soil quality, develop and evaluate methods of sustainable farming, and develop green technologies that turn residential and agricultural waste into energy and organic fertilizers. One of the biggest obstacles to agricultural development in China is soil contamination and degradation due to overuse of chemical fertilizers. China has less arable land per capita than many other countries Once the organic fertilizer is developed it will be used to produce certified green food in China. This will increase revenues for local farmers and reduce soil degradation caused by chemical fertilizers.