CSIS Report: China’s Food Security Faces Some Challenges
China's top food security challenges include diminishing arable land, water scarcity, and environmental degradation.
Assorted food and spices for sale at a wet market as daily life continues in Hong Kong on July 4, 2023. Regarding tourism in Hong Kong, it struggles to rebound after COVID-19, with 10 million tourists visiting in the first five months of the year, 80 percent of which were Mainland China visitors, the total mounting to only 40 percent of pre-pandemic tourism levels. Photo by Anadolu Images.
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eeding China’s massive population has long been a priority for Beijing, considering the historical ramifications of famines and food crises on social and regime stability. However, the task is daunting—China must sustainably feed nearly 20 percent of the global population with less than 10 percent of the world’s arable land. A recent joint CSIS-Brookings project delves into the complexities surrounding China’s food security, exploring key challenges and emerging policy responses.
In a speech in 2013, President Xi Jinping emphasized the critical importance of food security, highlighting China’s historical vulnerabilities to famines and the need for a robust national food security strategy. This sentiment underscores China’s recognition of food security as a “red line” crucial for national stability.
China’s agricultural landscape faces numerous challenges, including inefficient practices, supply chain bottlenecks, changing consumption habits, international trade dynamics, environmental degradation, corruption, and food safety scandals. Against the backdrop of an increasingly contentious international environment, China’s leadership has prioritized agricultural self-sufficiency and diversified sourcing of critical inputs and technology.
Social stability
Throughout China’s history, food security has been closely linked to social stability. Famine and food crises have often precipitated political upheaval, as seen in the Qing Dynasty’s collapse following major famines in the 19th century. With the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Communist-led government faced the challenge of ensuring a steady food supply to a rapidly growing population.
Under Mao Zedong, agricultural collectivization and the Great Leap Forward led to disastrous consequences, including the largest famine in modern history. However, subsequent reforms under Deng Xiaoping, including household ownership of land and market-oriented policies, contributed to significant improvements in agricultural output and reductions in undernourishment.
Under President Xi Jinping, food security has become a national priority. Xi’s government has enacted numerous laws and policies aimed at enhancing food security, recognizing its importance for economic development, social stability, and national security.
China’s food security challenges
China’s top food security challenges include diminishing arable land, water scarcity, and environmental degradation. To address these challenges, China has implemented initiatives such as the National High-Standard Farmland Construction Plan and investments in water-saving technologies. However, these efforts have yielded mixed results, with some projects showing promise while others exacerbate inter-provincial conflicts and environmental concerns.
China’s pursuit of food security is a multifaceted endeavor, encompassing agricultural reforms, technological advancements, and policy interventions. As China grapples with the complexities of feeding its vast population amid environmental constraints and global uncertainties, the nation’s leadership remains committed to safeguarding its food supply as a cornerstone of national stability and prosperity.
Source: CSIS
