Positive policy for food security

China's emphasis on self-sufficiency in staple grains and modern farming is conducive to global goals against hunger

It will never be too late for the world to appreciate the Chinese government's recent change to its food policy, from its previously stated "95 percent self-sufficiency" for food across the board to specific commodity-based self-sufficiency targets, with emphasis on the three staple grains: rice, wheat and maize.

This represents more a paradigm shift in Chinese food security strategy than a tacit recognition of fait accompli. Further reading of the policy change reveals that the government has done a thorough analysis of the most efficient and effective use of its limited land and water resources by giving priority to staple food production to ensure baseline food security while importing mostly feed grains. There is also a strategic consideration to this as the three major staple foods would more likely be subjected to "export restrictions" than feed grains in a future event similar to the 2007/08 global food crisis.