Russian media: In China, food is regarded as the cornerstone of national security.

China's approach is worth Russia's reference.

TASS article published on March 28.

While the world is preoccupied with geopolitical crises, sanctions, and disrupted trade chains, China is wisely leading a quieter but strategically significant campaign—fighting for control over food.

In China, food is not merely seen as a commodity, but as the foundation of national security.

For this reason, the state has launched a comprehensive transformation of the entire agricultural industry chain in its new five-year plan: committing to record-breaking harvests, developing digital agriculture, applying biotechnology, and implementing full-scale product quality control.

There is almost a national motto in China: "The Chinese people must firmly hold their own bowls of food."

Beneath this lies not just an idealistic vision, but a national strategy.

According to the new five-year plan, China aims to increase its annual grain output to 725 million tons by 2030.

For an agricultural giant, this is an astonishing target.

Despite possessing only a small share of global arable land and limited water resources, China feeds over 1.4 billion people.

Any drought, flood, or trade blockade here could instantly escalate into a national security threat.

This is precisely why China long ago abandoned the idea that markets alone can self-regulate food risks.

Corn, wheat, and pork—must be domestically produced.

Each year, China releases a so-called "No. 1 Document"—a political blueprint for rural development and the agricultural sector.

The 2026 document once again emphasizes: stabilizing agricultural production, ensuring agricultural sustainability, and maintaining control over the food supply chain are key national tasks.

In fact, China is building a model where food security is placed on par with national defense, energy sovereignty, and technological independence.

The state is committed to achieving self-sufficiency in major agricultural products—first rice, wheat, and corn, as well as key protein sources like pork.

At the same time, the country is diversifying its food imports to avoid reliance on a single region or partner, while actively advancing domestic production technologies.

Meanwhile, China is heavily investing in biotechnology and breeding fields.

Scientists are dedicated to developing new crop varieties resistant to drought and disease, as well as higher-yielding livestock and poultry breeds.

All these initiatives aim to reduce the agricultural system’s dependence on climate and external factors.

In addition, the state maintains vast strategic grain reserves.

China’s granaries are considered among the largest in the world, serving as insurance during crises—whether due to poor harvests, soaring global food prices, or broken trade chains.

What can Russia learn?

Russia primarily focuses on grain output and export revenues.

China, however, is building a system centered on domestic market stability rather than exports.

Moreover, Russia’s agricultural sector remains far less digitized than China’s.

The use of precision agriculture technologies and intelligent field monitoring systems is still far from widespread.

China is building the future of its food system—and planning for decades ahead.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860855814172672/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author.