BEIJING (Reuters) – China will accelerate the breeding of new soybean and corn varieties and prioritize yield improvements for key grains and oil crops, as part of broad efforts to ensure food security, the agriculture ministry said in a statement late on Wednesday.
The focus will be on five key crops – corn, rice, wheat, soybeans and rapeseed – and the better use and coordination of good land, high quality seeds, machinery and farming practices, the ministry said.
The ministry aims to increase grain production by 50 million metric tons by 2030, which would be a 7% increase over last year’s record grain harvest.
In 2024, China’s total grain production reached an all-time high of 706.5 million tons, 1.6% higher than 695.41 million tons in 2023.
The agriculture ministry also called for coordinated funding to support the efforts to boost yields and help reduce China’s reliance on imports to ensure food security for its 1.4 billion people.
China still relies on imports of key agricultural products, especially soybeans and corn, to feed its people and livestock.
“We will vigorously promote stable grain production, yield increases, and ensure the secure supply of grain and key agricultural products,” the ministry said.
(Reporting by Ella Cao and Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Tom Hogue)
