China ups food security drive, plans to grow 90 per cent of its grain by 2032, warning for US and Thai farmers
- China plans to grow nearly 90 per cent of the grain, including rice, wheat, corn and soybeans, it needs by 2032 amid efforts to ensure food security
- It also plans to reduce grain imports and increase rice exports, with food security high on the agenda for Beijing amid rising geopolitical tensions and the Ukraine war
China has significantly raised its grain self-sufficiency projections over the next decade by pledging to build a “diversified food supply system”, a move that has the potential to impact corn and soybean farmers in the United States and rice exporters in Thailand and Vietnam.
The flagship Agricultural Outlook Report for 2023-32 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs sets out China’s plan to grow 88.4 per cent of the grain – mainly referring to rice, wheat, corn and soybeans – it needs within a decade from the current level of 82 per cent.
It also plans to reduce grain imports to 122 million metric tonnes from last year’s 146.9 million metric tonnes, according to the report released by the agriculture ministry’s outlook committee on Monday.
“The foundation of grain security will be consolidated steadily,” it said, citing Beijing’s efforts to tap growth potential by increasing farming acreage and also promoting higher-yield seeds, farming machinery and technology.
“The agricultural trade structure will be changed significantly, with grain imports expected to fall 16 per cent over the next 10 years.”
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Why is the Chinese government so concerned about food security?