Given China's large population size, the attainment of grain security has become both a national and global issue. In the last decade, the concerted efforts of the Chinese government and its people to meet its grain demand have been highly successful. Despite the current global grain crisis, China's grain market has remained relatively stable, allowing it to contribute to world grain security. The purpose of this chapter was to give an overview of grain security in China, with an analysis of the present national and global grain security, as well as a historical accounting of the most important factors that have led to success. The Chinese grain production process was analyzed in detail, discussing in-depth achievements and experiences, which can then be used for reference in other countries. Although currently stable, grain security for China faces many long-term challenges, such as loss of cultivated land from degradation and urbanization, limited water resources, frequent natural disasters, impacts of climate change, vulnerable ecosystems, increased demand from population growth and improved standard of living, a small-scale agricultural economy, and outdated aging agricultural infrastructure, among others. The chapter then in details suggested countermeasures that should be taken to guarantee grain security, including the improvement of agricultural infrastructure, increased fiscal input, greater use of science and technology, protection of cultivated land and water resources, support for the farmers' livelihood, adaptation to climatic change, improvements in grassland agriculture, and controls on population growth, etc. The chapter concludes with two case studies serving to tie the chapter together with the idea that China's present successes and proactive long-term plans are working, thus presenting a highly favorable outlook for the future.
Wang, HX; Zhang, MH; Cai, Y
PROBLEMS, CHALLENGES, AND STRATEGIC OPTIONS OF GRAIN SECURITY IN CHINA
Advances In Agronomy, Vol 103