China has launched a decade-long plan to increase domestic consumption of cereal grains and improve production standards, as part of efforts to strengthen food security. The 2024-2035 action plan, issued by the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration and other government agencies, aims to raise public awareness and consumption of cereal grains, including wheat, corn, rice, and barley.
By 2035, the plan aims for a significant rise in cereal grain consumption among residents, aligning it with China’s economic and social development. The government is encouraging private companies to invest in development funds to support the whole grain industry.
China, the world’s largest cereal grain producer, harvested 652 million metric tonnes in 2024. Despite this, the country remains reliant on imports, particularly for corn and wheat. In 2023, China imported 59.08 million tonnes of cereal grains and flour. The new plan is intended to reduce this dependence by increasing domestic production and improving the quality of grains.
The plan includes efforts to promote the health benefits of cereal grains through government and educational campaigns. It also calls for the development of grain varieties suitable for human consumption, alongside better grain breeding and planting techniques. China aims to play a more active role in setting international cereal grain standards and fostering global cooperation. To drive growth in the industry, the plan also focuses on developing leading whole grain food processing enterprises and creating high-quality cereal grain industry clusters.
