Date growers hope to turn desert green as new lab opens

Date growers at a world-leading UK lab are assisting in greening an Indian desert by producing thousands of date plants in a state-of-the-art lab. Despite the British climate being unsuitable for growing dates, climate-controlled labs and greenhouses are used to nurture the plants. The Somerset firm, Date Palm Developments, exports over 300,000 date plants annually to 30 countries, focusing on combating desertification in regions like the Thar Desert in India, where they help reclaim land and create jobs. The company's innovative approach guarantees disease-free, uniform plants for farmers worldwide, meeting high demand and expanding global partnerships.