Li Baoju, a researcher at the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, has found a new way to leverage his agricultural expertise to help growers across the country: short videos.

In 2023, Li opened an account on a short-video platform, and began posting clips sharing agricultural science tips through accessible demonstrations.

A screenshot shows short videos posted on a popular Chinese short-video sharing platform by Li Baoju, a researcher at the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. (Photo from the official account of People's Daily on WeChat)

In his videos, Li explains the growth habits of vegetables, introduces disease and pest prevention and control methods, and breaks down farming techniques in plain language, helping farmers identify problems, apply treatments, and improve harvests.

These practical, field-based videos have not only become a guide to vegetable cultivation for farmers but have also sparked interest in agriculture among young people, with many seeking him out specifically to learn, hoping to join a new generation of young farmers.

So far, Li's account has garnered over 380,000 followers. Farmers frequently leave comments asking for advice, from diagnosing vegetable diseases to seeking guidance on profitable crops.

Li turns these online inquiries into hands-on solutions, encouraging farmers to send in samples for detailed analysis.

In his experimental greenhouses, different sections are assigned to different types of vegetables, serving as dedicated "wards" where plant samples sent in from across the country are closely monitored and studied.

Photo shows the "exclusive wards" of vegetables suffering from diseases in an experimental greenhouse of Li Baoju, a researcher at the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. (Photo from the official account of People's Daily on WeChat)

Each greenhouse, Li explains, replicates a type of farmland. Some simulate high-humidity conditions while others focus on soil-borne diseases.

"They recreate the problems in farmers' fields on a scaled-down basis," Li explained.

Working with his team, Li examines specimens under microscopes, isolates pathogens, and draws up treatment plans, while documenting the process in short videos to benefit a wider audience.

The greenhouse vegetables and experimental cultures require constant attention, so Li rarely gets a day off.

"Plant diseases don't take holidays, and neither do we," he said.

Constantly moving between laboratories, offices, and farmland, Li has integrated research, hands-on fieldwork, and social media outreach, becoming a bridge between agricultural science and everyday farming.

Li Baoju, a researcher at the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, conducts research on crop diseases and pests in a greenhouse. (Photo from the official account of People's Daily on WeChat)

The short videos have added to his already packed schedule, but Li finds genuine satisfaction in empowering farmers nationwide.

"In the past, I could only teach one person face to face. Now, I can teach a whole group on a screen. A single short video can benefit many more farmers who need help. That makes what we're doing meaningful," he said.

In 2023, Li was elected a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body. The role has allowed him to bring suggestions grounded in field research — and in the questions farmers leave in his comment sections — to the annual session of the CPPCC National Committee.

"When farmers' problems are solved, their happiness becomes our happiness," Li noted.