Guayule

Rubber is very important in the modern world. We use it for tires for automobiles, buses, trucks, motorcycles, and airplanes. We use large trucks and other machines to build highways. They have large ruber tires.

Natural rubber comes from trees. Most of the world's rubber comes from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand in Southeast Asia. We also make rubber from petroleum. This kind of rubber becomes hot very fast. We can use it for only some kinds of tires.

Now scientists can make rubber form guayule. This wild plant grows in northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States. It doesn't need very much rain. It can grow in desert soil. Guayule rubber is nearly the same as rubber from the rubber trees.

Native Americans in Arizona plan to start guayule farms. They know a lot about farming in the desert. The farms will use poor desert land and give people jobs. The Native Americans think they can make a lot of money from guayule rubber.

Poor desert countries in Africa could grow guayule too. People could earn money on their own desert land. If they grow their own rubber, they will not have to buy it from other countries.