In a significant development, China’s top legislature has approved a food security law designed to fortify the nation’s grain supply and introduce measures to enhance the income of crop farmers. The law, adopted during a session of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, is set to come into effect on June 1.
The primary objective of the law is to guarantee “absolute security in staple foods and basic self-sufficiency in grains,” according to the legislative text. A focal point of the legislation is the protection of farmland, emphasizing the need for the government to establish and uphold red lines to safeguard farmland, permanent basic cropland, ecosystems, and urban development boundaries.
Zhuang Xiaoyong, an official with the NPC Standing Committee’s Legislative Affairs Commission, emphasized the pivotal role of farmland in grain production, underscoring why the law incorporates a dedicated chapter on farmland protection. The legislation includes various measures to boost farmers’ enthusiasm for grain cultivation.
The law dictates that the government should refine mechanisms to ensure the incomes of grain growers, compensate major grain-producing areas, and promote new forms of agribusiness. Additionally, a dedicated chapter addresses food conservation, outlining requirements to minimize food waste throughout various processes, from grain production to consumption.
While China presently maintains ample grain supplies and reserves, exceeding 695 million metric tons in 2023, the law acknowledges the persistent challenge of a “tight balance” in the nation’s grain supply and demand. Despite favorable circumstances, Minister of Justice He Rong pointed out that China faces various challenges, including limited arable land of low quality and increasing difficulty in ensuring stable and higher grain output.
The newly enacted legislation assumes paramount importance in the context of China’s modernization efforts. Wang Zhimin, a member of the NPC Standing Committee, asserts that the law lays a robust legal foundation for advancing China’s system and capacity for food security governance, contributing significantly to the nation’s ongoing modernization endeavors.