The rice is thought to have several health benefits, including being high in calcium.
A team of scientists at Yangzhou University in China have developed several types of rice that can be grown in seawater, potentially creating enough food for 200 million people. Researchers have been trying to grow the grain in salty water for decades but have only now developed varieties that could be commercially viable.
The new type of rice was developed by a team led by Yuan Longping, who has spent decades trying to breed rice to grow in different conditions. The Chinese government has been investigating how to grow rice in salty waters since the 1970s.
The saltwater rice is currently on sale for around 50 yuan per kilogramme, around eight times more than ordinary rice. Despite the cost, six tons of the grain have already been sold, with consumers praising its flavour and texture. The rice is also thought to have several health benefits, including being high in calcium.
There are one million square kilometres of land in China where crops do not grow because of high salinity. Scientists hope the development of the new rice will allow some of these areas to be used for agriculture.
