Report Tackles China's Agricultural Transformation Plans for 2025

China continues to exhibit support for the commercialization of genetically modified (GM) crops to attain food security targets. This is according to a report published by Modern Diplomacy about China's agricultural priorities for 2025.

“China's current Five-Year Agricultural Plan targets annual grain production exceeding 770 million tonnes, alongside a push to increase domestic soybean production to 23 million tons by 2025. The plan also sets specific acreage targets, aiming to maintain over 1.75 billion mu (approximately 117 million hectares) of grain farmland,” the report highlights.

To achieve the country's targets, it is expected that China will continue investing in agricultural innovation, particularly in biotechnology and digital technology. However, the commercialization of GM crops into the country's food security plans remains implicit, the report indicated.

Several actions imply China's support of the technology as part of its agricultural transformation plans. For instance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) granted safety permits to 12 types of GM crops such as soybeans, corn, and cotton in late 2024. Key investments were also allotted to the research and development of such crops, especially for rice and wheat. Furthermore, MARA's 14th Five-Year Agricultural Plan (2021-2025) emphasizes the “creation of future foods”, like plant-based eggs.

China's challenges in agriculture include increasing reliance on imports of key agricultural products such as edible oil, as extreme weather events caused major disruptions in local production.

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