Plant scientists at a leading firm in Somerset have opened a new laboratory to boost the production of date palms, aiming to help transform arid regions such as the Thar Desert in India. Despite the unsuitable British climate for growing dates outdoors, the company uses climate-controlled labs and greenhouses to cultivate young plants, exporting more than 300,000 annually to thirty countries. Significant investment from an Indian partner has enabled the expansion of these facilities, with the goal of combating desertification and providing new jobs in affected areas. The initiative highlights how innovative plant breeding in Somerset is making a global impact on agriculture and land restoration.