Ramie, as a cash crop in southern China, is widely used in the national textile industry; however, with only 18% of its biomass, the remainder of ramie has not been fully used. As a kind of large biomass plant, the annual dry yield of ramie is up to 24 tons/ha., and the protein content of its tender stem and leaves is over 20%.

In order to solve the problem of over-depending on importing protein feed from abroad and the shortage of culture substrate for edible mushroom, Dr. Xiong Heping and his research team from the Institute of Bast Fiber Crops (IBFC) of CAAS, by undertaking the program Research and Techniques Extension of Ramie Feed and Diverse Utilization of Ramie, has successfully developed the first dedicated feed ramie variety in the world.

As a new variety, Zhongsizhu No.1 can be harvested several times annually, with 22% crude protein, 1.02% lysine, 4.07% calcium in its stem and leaves which are higher than alfalfa. With the technique of diverse utilization of ramie, the resource utilization rate has been enhanced 4 times as much as before. Focused on ensiling method, they invented ramie byproducts processing technique and herbivorous animal feeding technique. Based on ramie byproducts ensiling substrate, the cultivation technique of high class edible mushroom has been developed.

Zhongsizhu No.1, since its release by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) in 2012, has been extended in ramie planting areas of Hunan, Sichuan and Hubei provinces.