BEIJING, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have released a long-term, high-resolution dataset that tracks global cropland water-use efficiency from 2001 to 2020. Published in the journal Scientific Data, the dataset provides annual water-use efficiency estimates for croplands worldwide at a spatial resolution of one kilometer. It is expected to serve as a valuable tool for advancing sustainable agricultural water management.

May 12 marks the International Day of Plant Health, a United Nations initiative to raise awareness about how vital healthy plants are to life on Earth. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), up to 40 percent of global crops are lost annually due to plant pests and diseases. This not only threatens food security, but also weakens ecosystems and hampers climate resilience.

The 14th International Symposium on Digital Earth opened on Monday in Chongqing, drawing nearly 700 delegates from 30 countries and regions to discuss how digital technologies can help accelerate progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- In the second week of April, Lusaka became a hub of agricultural innovation as technicians from Southern African countries gathered for a unique three-day training session. Unlike typical workshops, this one provided a customized experience. Participants brought data from their own countries and practiced on the satellite remote sensing agricultural monitoring platform developed by Chinese scientists, tailoring their learning to fit local needs. This exemplified China's increasing collaboration with Global South countries in space technology -- not merely through memorandums or broad agreements, but by translating cutting-edge innovation into tangible, real-world applications.

As the space race hots up once again, representatives of over 50 countries are at the Farnborough International Space show to focus on sustainability. Just how can science, data, and technology drive sustainable progress, not just on Earth but beyond?

Chinese scientists, in collaboration with several international research institutions, have led the construction of a high-precision surface solar radiation monitoring system on a near-global scale. The joint research led by researchers from the State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth of the Aerospace Information Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with scientists from Japan, France the UK has recently been published in the international academic journal The Innovation.