The People’s Republic of China (PRC) feeds the largest population in the world, a task fraught with many challenges. Investments in agriculture together with institutional reforms have secured a stable food supply. The PRC made a remarkable achievement in expanding agriculture production by more than 5 times in three decades through new technologies, investment in infrastructure, mechanization, increased chemical use and subsidies that focused on increasing food production. The PRC also succeeded in connecting farmers with markets and developing food value chains with strong private sector engagement and innovative technologies, such as the digitalization of food supply chains through e-commerce platforms.

The risk of food insecurity is aggravated by climate change that leads to more frequent droughts and floods, causing reductions in agriculture production. The PRC is also facing natural resource degradation and water shortages due to intensive agriculture. Recognizing the importance of environmental sustainability and climate resilience to ensure long-term food security, the PRC has been increasing its efforts to adopt a more balanced approach between production systems and the underpinning natural and human resources to build resilience and better absorb environmental, climatic, and economic shocks.

In partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, ADB is supporting the PRC’s shift to sustainable and resilient food systems and integrated rural development to achieve carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability while generating more economic opportunities in disadvantaged rural areas. The current state of food security and agriculture in Asia and the Pacific is revealing the vulnerability of food systems. The experience of the PRC in developing productive, sustainable, and resilient agriculture provides lessons for many ADB developing member countries (DMCs) facing common development challenges.

ADB’s PRC Poverty Reduction and Regional Cooperation Fund (PRC Fund) support the process of poverty reduction, regional cooperation and knowledge sharing for DMCs in Asia and the Pacific. The webinar series is designed to support the cross-regional knowledge sharing initiative between the PRC and other DMCs to enhance food security in the region through productive, sustainable, and resilient agriculture development. Three short webinars are envisaged on (i) integrated approach to agriculture infrastructure investment, (ii) innovation in food value chain development, and (iii) transformation to sustainable and resilient agriculture

Webinar 1: Integrated approach to agriculture infrastructure investment

The PRC feeds the largest population in the world, a task fraught with many challenges. The PRC’s agricultural sector expanded strongly since the implementation of economic reform in the late 1970s. Total agricultural production grew by more than 5 times in three decades. At the same time, the RRC lifted more than 850 million of the rural population out of extreme poverty. Strong investments in agriculture together with bold institutional reforms have contributed to rapid growth in agricultural production and poverty reduction in rural areas. In the last decade, the PRC’s policy focus has evolved from boosting food production to a more integrated and balanced approach to improving economic, social, and environmental welfare for the country's vast rural population.

The PRC and ADB have been supporting a more integrated model of agricultural infrastructure investment projects to increase food security, boost agricultural productivity and improve sustainability and climate resilience through an integrated approach of infrastructure, institutional, and capacity development.

Webinar#1 the PRC’s experiences of integrated agriculture infrastructure development to achieve productive, sustainable, and resilient agriculture that provides food security and resilient supply chains. The session discussed implications for future agriculture investment strategies, institutional development, and capacity development in other DMCs.

Webinar 2: Innovation in Food Value Chain Development

The PRC feeds the largest population in the world, a task fraught with many challenges. The PRC’s agricultural sector expanded strongly since the implementation of economic reform in the late 1970s. Total agricultural production grew by more than 5 times in three decades. At the same time, the RRC lifted more than 850 million rural population out of extreme poverty. Strong investments in agriculture together with bold institutional reforms have contributed a rapid growth in agriculture production and poverty reduction in rural areas. In the last decade, the PRC’s policy focus has evolved from boosting food production to a more integrated and balanced approach to improve economic, social, and environmental welfare of the country's vast rural population. The PRC and ADB have been supporting more integrated model of agricultural infrastructure investment project to increases food security, boost agricultural productivity, and improve sustainability and climate resilience through an integrated approach of infrastructure, institutional and capacity development. Webinar Series #2 shared the PRC’s experience of innovation in sustainable and resilient food and agriculture supply/value chain, application of digital technologies, strategies, and institutional development and capacity development in other DMCs.

Webinar #2 will share the PRC’s experience of innovation in sustainable and resilient food and agriculture supply/value chain, application of digital technologies, strategies, and institutional development and capacity development in other DMCs.

The Innovation in Food Value Chain Development webinar is supported by the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center (FECC), MARA.

Webinar #3: Transformation to sustainable and resilient agriculture

Transformation of agriculture and food systems is a key to tackle these challenges, achieve environmental sustainability, and ensure long-term food security in PRC. The PRC has been increasing its effort to adopt a more balanced approach between production systems and the natural and human resources to build more resilient food systems that withstand environmental, climatic, and economic shocks. Together, the PRC and ADB have been supporting initiatives that promote rural revitalization, nature-based solutions, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and green financing for private sector engagement to achieve carbon neutrality, ensure sustainability, protect vulnerable people, and ensure a smooth transition from traditional small holders to modern agriculturalists. 

Webinar #3 highlights the PRC’s experiences and lessons learned to ensure a smooth transition to a resilient, equitable and sustainable modern agriculture