China seeks to grow sound, complete food industry chain with abundant, diverse sources
State Council directive seeks to diversity China’s food supply system by 2027 to increase self-reliance
China has outlined its latest effort to ensure food security, with a road map to broaden food production beyond traditional farmlands and crops amid mounting pressure to feed 1.4 billion people with conventional resources.
The State Council issued a directive to establish a diversified food supply system that combines agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery, as well as plants, animals and microorganisms by 2027 to increase self-reliance.
President Xi Jinping’s “all-encompassing approach to food” idea has repeatedly appeared in official narrative amid an increasing sense of insecurity in food supply due to geopolitical risks, trade tensions and climate change.
The directive issued on Sunday vowed to achieve a “sound and complete food industry chain” and “abundant and diverse foods” by developing new varieties, exploring alternative biological resources and promoting technological innovation.
More alternatives should come from forest-based food industries, grass-fed livestock farming and deep-sea aquaculture, according to the directive.
On Thursday, China’s top economic planner also said it was working with relevant departments to establish statistical monitoring indicators for food, launch a survey of food resources and industries and develop various food resources based on local realities.
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