Recently, a few people in various Western countries accused China of “hoarding grains” on the global market. They demand that China take greater measures to ensure global food security.
I must stress out that the Chinese government always prioritizes food security. China has a goal for food security that focuses on “self-sufficiency in grain supply and absolute security of staple grains.” China’s annual grain production will exceed 650 million tonnes for the eighth consecutive year in 2021. China is the world’s largest grain producer and third-largest grain exporter. China is capable and confident in securing its own food supply. It’s unnecessary for China to “hoard grains” in the international market.
Production occurs on less than 9% of global arable land. This breakthrough contributes significantly to global food security. Meanwhile, China has demonstrated its duty as a major country by making significant contributions to world food security. Food security is one of eight priority areas of cooperation outlined in China’s Global Development Initiative. China will coordinate efforts from all parties across the world to use each other’s strengths and achieve all sustainable development goals, including food security. China has long been a key strategic partner of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in South-South cooperation.
In recent years, China has contributed $130 million to the FAO’s South-South Cooperation Programme. China has dispatched a considerable number of professionals and technical workers to countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands. Among all developing countries, China has provided the most funding, sent the most experts, and completed the most projects through the FAO’s South-South Cooperation Programme. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has aggressively responded to the appeals of the United Nations and other international organisations by providing emergency food assistance to a number of countries. China’s assistance to stabilising global food production and supply has received widespread recognition from the international community.
Furthermore, China actively promotes reducing food loss and waste. Reducing food loss by 1% might result in saving up to 28 million tonnes of food, enough to feed 70 million people. President Xi Jinping has often underlined the necessity of food conservation. In 2021, China hosted the International Conference on Food Loss and Waste, which was well accepted by the international community, including G20 member states.
I am saddened to learn that in many developing nations with food shortages, people do not have enough to eat, yet in other rich countries, food frequently goes uneaten and ends up in garbage cans. In developed countries, approximately the same amount of food is wasted every year. I am saddened to learn that in many developing nations with food shortages, people do not have enough to eat, yet in other rich countries, food frequently goes uneaten and ends up in garbage cans. Every year, rich countries waste nearly as much food as sub-Saharan Africa produces.
The Department of Agriculture of the United States estimates that food waste accounts for 30-40% of the country’s food supply. In 2018, food waste in the United States totaled 103 million tons, worth an estimated $161 billion. China urges relevant countries to eliminate food waste, meet their international obligations, and take on more international responsibilities. Instead of racking their brains over other countries’ problems, they should do their own homework, make serious efforts to save food, keep international trade in agricultural products running smoothly, and assist developing countries in improving their food production capacity in order to maintain global food security.
People must strengthen their camaraderie as the situation becomes more challenging. At a time when the international food supply chain is under threat, China urges all countries to take shared responsibility. To ensure global food security, countries should stabilize output, reduce food loss and waste, and prioritize food conservation measures.
