Dil Rahut: How can China ensure national food security and contribute to global food security in the coming decades

2023-04-26

China has made significant progress in achieving sustainable agricultural growth and improving food security, but challenges remain. To ensure national and global food security while mitigating the negative environmental impact of food production, what actions can China take? Dil Rahut, vice-chair of Research at the Asian Development Bank Institute in Tokyo, provided some insights.

 

China Daily: Could you discuss the impact of China's agricultural growth on global food production and the challenges that remain to achieve food security?

 

Rahut: The agricultural sector has expanded significantly over the past six decades. Global cereal production, for instance, increased from 877 million tons in 1961 to 3,007 million tons in 2020. China contributes about 21 percent of cereal, 28 percent of fruit, 17 percent of roots and tubers, and 52 percent of vegetable production. From 1961 to 2020, China’s cereal production expanded almost six-fold, from 110 million tons to 619 million tons, while the country’s vegetable production rose by more than 11-fold, from 50 million tons to 593 million tons (see figure 1). These rapid increases were mostly driven by higher productivity rather than an expansion of agricultural land, and the Asian Green Revolution had a significant role in this development. Fertilizer use worldwide has also increased dramatically. Between 1961 and 2020, nitrogen fertilizer use increased from 11.5 million to 113.3 million tons, phosphate from 10.9 million to 48.1 million tons, and potash from 8.6 million to 39.2 million tons. In 2020, China accounted for almost 23 percent of the total global fertilizer use.

 

Figure 1: Trend of agriculture production in China, Asia, and the World

Source: FAO stat.

 

Despite such enormous global agriculture growth, around 22 percent of the world’s population is still suffering from moderate to severe food insecurity, 8.9 percent from undernourishment, and 21 percent from stunting, with most of this poverty, undernourishment, and hunger concentrated in South Asia.

 

China stands out for its remarkable progress in Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2. The country’s poverty headcount (those living on less than $3.20 per day) fell from 28.39 percent in 2010 to 1.98 percent in 2019, the prevalence of undernourishment from 10.1 percent in 2001 to 2.5 percent in 2019, the prevalence of stunting in children under 5 from 18.8 percent in 2000 to 11.1 percent in 2019, and wasting in children under 5 from 3.5 percent in 2000 to 3.1 percent in 2019. Food insecurity is also currently almost zero.

 

China has taken numerous initiatives to safeguard its citizens’ food security. It has implemented various programs to boost agricultural productivity, diversify food sources, and create efficient food distribution networks. Yet, increased agricultural production has put immense strain on land, soil, water, and biodiversity resources. As a result, if China does not do more to reverse or halt the loss of natural resources, all progress made so far will be lost, culminating in poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition.

 

China Daily: How can China promote sustainable agriculture and secure national and global food security, while also mitigating the negative environmental impact of food production, including reducing GHG emissions and food waste, and investing in advanced farming technologies and institutions?

 

Rahut: First, China must invest more in cutting-edge agricultural technologies to increase sustainable production on its limited land. This includes advanced plant breeding techniques, modern irrigation systems, and precision agricultural technologies. By utilizing these technologies, Chinese farmers could increase their yields and reduce the waste of natural resources. Additionally, these technologies can facilitate China’s transition to more environmentally friendly farming practices by reducing the nation’s reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. All these initiatives would require significant investments from the Chinese government in the form of green subsidies, research and development, increased coverage of third-generation (3G) or 4G services, and infrastructural improvements. Use of digital technology in agriculture, such as AI for weeding, pest and disease management, monitoring of soil and crops, and grading, could also play a crucial role in improving productivity with minimal or no adverse effect on the natural environment.

 

Second, the agricultural sector is the most susceptible to climate change since it is weather-sensitive, but it is also a perpetrator, accounting for a quarter of all greenhouse (GHG) emissions. Therefore, facilitating the agenda to reduce net zero emissions by scaling better farming practices and investing in agricultural research and development, climate change adaptation, and mitigation can help to improve yields while preserving the environment. Encouraging dietary changes like cutting back on animal-based products can also help lessen the environmental impact of food production and ensure that global food resources are used more efficiently. The livestock sector should go through a transformation to reduce herd sizes by improving breeds. Optimizing livestock health and feed (nutrition mix) and the use of supplements and vaccines to reduce methane emissions would help China meet the demand for livestock products with minimal undesirable effects on the environment. 

 

Third, besides promoting sustainable agriculture, China should continue investing in food storage and distribution systems to decrease food waste. This includes investing in cold storage facilities and efficient logistics networks to ensure food is preserved and transferred securely and effectively. It should also ensure that food storage and distribution systems are resilient against natural disasters and other disruptions. Additionally, China must train farmers and consumers in proper food storage and handling techniques to minimize food loss and wastage resulting from incorrect storage.

 

Fourth, promoting sustainable aquaculture is indeed a key strategy for China to secure national and global food security. The country is a global leader in aquaculture, and it can boost its position even more by investing in advanced fishing technology and management systems to help reduce overfishing and enhance the long-term sustainability of ocean resources.

 

Fifth, China should strengthen agricultural institutions like research and extension services, agricultural education and training, agricultural credit and insurance, and farmers’ organizations. These institutions are essential for providing Chinese farmers access to new and improved technologies, knowledge, and skills, enabling them to increase their productivity, yield, and income. In addition, China might invest more in creating a functional input market that guarantees farmers have timely access to high-quality inputs at affordable prices. A similar emphasis should be placed on the output market as well to provide farmers with a reliable outlet where they can sell their goods at fair prices, encouraging them to increase both production and quality.

 

Finally, China should prioritize international collaboration in food security by working with other nations to exchange best practices and create new technologies. Collaboration across nations can help them find new and innovative solutions for issues with food security, such as soil erosion, water scarcity, and climate change. In addition to working together on technology and best practices, China could also take the lead in promoting fair and equitable global trade policies that support food security for all at all times, as well as engaging in global initiatives to fight poverty and enhance food security, particularly in countries that are vulnerable to climate change. Overall, China has a vital role to play in advancing global and national food security in the coming decades.