Our country is experiencing modernization again, and we still have to rely mainly on ourselves for food
2026-09-22
The corn is gradually turning golden, and the fragrance of rice wafts from the fields. It's also the golden autumn harvest season.
Grain, which is not usually visible, can touch people's hearts whenever there is wind or grass movement.
Solving the problem of food is always the top priority for governing our country, which has a population of over 1.4 billion.
General Secretary Xi Jinping is concerned about food security and cares about the "Chinese rice bowl". Going up the field embankment, entering the farmhouse, observing the seedling situation, calculating profits, always feeling uneasy.
The resilience of food production from the perspective of overall national security
The Chinese bowl must contain Chinese food, and we must be self reliant
The Strait of Hormuz, at its narrowest point of only 33 kilometers, is connected to the global 'food bag'. A study by the World Trade Organization shows that since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, fertilizer ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz have almost "gone to zero".
My gaze turned to the equatorial Middle East Pacific. The sea surface temperature continues to rise, and the El Ni ñ o phenomenon continues to intensify. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has stated that it may become the biggest climate variable affecting global agriculture in recent years.
Geopolitical conflicts, extreme weather... "A hundred years of change, one thing after another, sometimes gray rhinoceroses, sometimes black swans
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that "there should be a bottom line awareness and crisis awareness towards the ever-changing situation" and "food and energy security are the most urgent challenges in the global development field".
The security of food is linked to the security of the country; Only when the 'rice bowl' is firmly secured can the overall situation be proactive. How to be prepared for danger in times of peace when international food market volatility intensifies? There is an answer in a field.
In the "Green Screen" of Dongyujia Village, Bianlin Town, Lingcheng District, Dezhou, Shandong Province, the grain grower Yu Shulei is busy preparing for the autumn harvest. Speaking of this year's bountiful summer harvest, this experienced farmer exclaimed that it was not easy. Last autumn, after more than half a month of continuous rainy weather, "we couldn't get cars into the fields, harvest corn, or plant wheat. It was a pity that the agricultural technicians went to the fields and taught us how to fine manage on the basis of increasing the sowing amount. We applied two coats of water and two coats of fertilizer, and when the seedlings grew stronger, we felt at ease
In June of this year, during the summer broadcasting season, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to Dongyujia Village and walked into the farmland, asking one by one, "How many acres of land have been planted?" "How was the harvest?" "How is the technical guidance
In meticulous and specific care, there is a long-term plan. Our country is experiencing modernization again, and we still need to rely mainly on ourselves for food. 1.4 billion people cannot rely on anyone for their livelihoods, and we must focus on food production, "General Secretary Xi Jinping's words were firm and powerful.
As early as the 2013 Central Rural Work Conference, when it came to the issue of grain imports, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly pointed out that "the rice bowl must mainly contain the grain we produce ourselves".
Looking at the whole country from this farmland on the northwest plain of Shandong, it is like a storm outside, and the grain production season continues. This once again strongly confirms that "a very important reason why our country can achieve social stability and people's peace of mind is that we have food in our hands and don't panic in our hearts
Agriculture ensures the safety of life and survival, which is extremely important for national security. The issue of food cannot be viewed solely from an economic perspective, but must be viewed from a political perspective. Ensuring national food security is an important foundation for achieving economic development, social stability, and national security. The Chinese bowl must contain Chinese food, and self-reliance is necessary. Food security is planned from the perspective of overall national security.
This is a profound insight into the international situation, 'Look at the truly powerful countries in the world, countries without weaknesses, all have the ability to solve their own food problems.' 'If we rely on imported food, we will be led by others.'.
In the farmland of Guoyang County, Anhui Province, a bumper corn harvest is in sight. My fertilizer was pre ordered in the first half of the year. Once it's used up here, please contact the manufacturer or agricultural supply store and they can renew it at any time, "said Zhang Linsen, a large-scale grain grower.
The international fertilizer market is turbulent, with many agricultural countries' "waiting for fertilizer to enter the field". China's fertilizer prices are generally stable, and the supply is sufficient and orderly. Behind this, there is a joint effort from multiple departments to stabilize fertilizer supply and prioritize transportation, as well as timely response from cross regional socialized services. Chinese rice bowls have shown strong resilience in resisting risks and adapting to changes.
This is a scientific grasp of the changes in grain supply and demand, and the pattern of tight balance between grain supply and demand in China will not change in the long run.
See the demand. Stable and increased grain production has led to a rapid increase in total grain consumption. Feed grains are the main driver of demand growth, and the demand for industrial grains should not be underestimated. The tight balance between supply and demand will become increasingly tight.
Look at the supply. Faced with the red line of "insufficient land, insufficient water, and the ecological environment cannot bear it", we urge "rational allocation of resources and concentrated efforts to first protect the most basic and important aspects".
Stable rice bowl, we are working hard! "Said Zhu Renshan excitedly, holding a rice ear in the rice fields of Luotian County, Hubei Province.
Zhu Renshan is a professor level senior engineer in the State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice of Wuhan University, and has been committed to the cultivation and promotion of red lotus hybrid rice with high temperature resistance and lodging resistance.
In April 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected the National Southern Breeding Research and Breeding Base in Hainan, emphasizing that "over a billion people need to eat, which is the biggest national condition of our country". Zhu Renshan listened on site and made up his mind, "China's grain uses Chinese seeds to ensure national food security from the source
Since the 14th Five Year Plan period, China's total grain output has consistently stood at the 1.3 trillion jin and 1.4 trillion jin levels, with a self-sufficiency rate of over 100% for food rations and a per capita grain possession of over 500 kilograms; The first battle of grain production during the 15th Five Year Plan period saw the total summer grain output exceed 300 billion kilograms for the first time.
The great matter of the people lies in agriculture. As long as there is no major problem with food, China's affairs will be stable.
Observing the Stability of Granary from the Perspective of Big History
We cannot suffer from amnesia when it comes to eating, and we cannot forget the pain of scars once they heal
Harvest, recorded in a thick stack of farmer's accounts.
Shen Huaide, a villager from Qingshui Village, Tongzhong Township, Chongyang County, Hubei Province, has a stack of household account books that have been recorded for over 40 years.
On August 17, 1981, at the age of 29, he received 10.6 yuan in cash from his family;
Distributing farmland to households, allocating 3.84 acres of dry land and 4.72 acres of paddy fields, "solved the problem of food and clothing";
In 1995, he sold cattle, borrowed money, and raised over 3000 yuan to buy the first farmland machine in the village, farming for his fellow villagers;
In 2021, a harvester can harvest 6 acres of rice in just a few hours; In the past, relying on manual labor required being busy for half a month;
…………
There is a big history in the small account book, from not being able to eat enough to eating well, from carrying on one's shoulders to using machines to farm, from paying agricultural taxes to enjoying grain subsidies, every transaction of rural income and expenditure outlines the process of rural reform and agricultural development.
Food security, when viewed in the context of historical depth, highlights its significance.
Recalling his youth, during his time in Liangjiahe, Shaanxi, young Xi Jinping witnessed firsthand the hardships of people's livelihoods. The local people often say, "Fat in January, thin in February, half dead in March and April
The saying 'Without agriculture, there is instability; without food, there is chaos' has been repeated throughout history, both domestically and internationally. General Secretary once told the historical story of Qi inducing Lu to abandon grain and plant mulberry trees, and at a critical moment, cutting off grain and subduing Lu; King Goujian of Yue boiled the seeds and presented them to the state of Wu, taking advantage of its sudden crop failure to destroy Wu in one fell swoop.
From a historical perspective on food, General Secretary Xi Jinping warns that "we cannot have amnesia when it comes to eating, and we cannot forget the pain of scars." "Ensuring national food security is an eternal issue, and this string cannot be loosened at any time.
From a historical perspective, we need to have a bottom line mindset.
When the grain harvest is abundant year after year and the production is stable and increased at a high level, some people propose that 'food security is no longer a worry'.
Is it really like this? Grain, as a special commodity with both commodity and strategic attributes, is almost impossible to rapidly expand production and achieve a leapfrog increase in production capacity in the short term.
General Secretary Xi Jinping warns us: "We cannot take chances or cause trouble on the issue of food. Once a major problem arises, we will be in a passive position for many years, and no one will be able to save us at that time
In the not too distant past, China's grain production reached 1 trillion catties three times in 1996, 1998, and 1999. However, after years of fluctuations and efforts, it was not until 2007 that it returned to 1 trillion catties again.
This is a dialectics of quantity and quantity. Having more or less food is a tactical issue, while food security is a strategic issue. It is better to produce and reserve more, as the pressure of having more and less cannot be compared.
Looking at the future from history, adhere to strategic thinking.
Some people are concerned about how to sustain stable and increased production at a high baseline?
The key to ensuring food security is to maintain the production capacity of food, ensuring that it can be produced and supplied when needed, and placing the improvement of comprehensive agricultural production capacity in a more prominent position. From output to production capacity, every word changes, reflecting strategic foresight.
Lishu County, Siping City, Jilin Province, has ten thousand hectares of grain fields undulating like waves, with wide rows and narrow bands, and agricultural machinery and agronomy working together.
On July 22, 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the core demonstration area of the National Million Acre Green Food Raw Material (Corn) Standardization Production Base in Lishu County. Under the scorching sun, he stepped deep into the corn fields and urged, "Effective measures must be taken to protect the black soil, the 'giant panda in arable land,' and leave it to future generations. The pear tree model is worth summarizing and promoting
This year, Siping has promoted the "pear tree model" for protecting black soil to 5.17 million acres, and the "water fertilizer integration+dense planting" technology to 958000 acres. Save a layer of black soil and increase production capacity by one point; Manage the fields well for one season to support a year's harvest.
How to stabilize production capacity? One by one, carefully planned. Care about farmland and emphasize the need to implement the strictest farmland protection system; Concerned about the seeds, urging 'to make up our minds to develop the national seed industry'; Focus on agricultural technology and point out that 'following the laws of agricultural technology and accelerating the pace of innovation'; Caring for farmers and entrusting them not to forget their side, we must ensure that they receive tangible benefits.
To preserve today's harvest, it is even more important to accumulate tomorrow's production capacity.
By the end of 2025, a total of over 1 billion mu of high standard farmland will have been built nationwide, and the proportion of self selected crop varieties planted will exceed 95%. The policy system for agricultural support and protection continues to be improved, and policies such as minimum purchase prices for rice and wheat are constantly being perfected. The full cost insurance and planting income insurance policies for the three major staple foods have achieved nationwide coverage.
The outline of the 15th Five Year Plan sets the comprehensive grain production capacity of about 1.45 trillion catties as a binding indicator, and clarifies the deep implementation of the strategy of storing grain in the ground and in technology.
Looking towards the future, the stability of a major country's granary requires not only production but also production capacity; We need to consider both the present and the long-term; We need to increase both grain production and farmers' income. The bountiful harvest of 'Chinese grain' every year is the confidence in times of wind and rain, and the cornerstone of economic and social development.
Viewing the abundance of "rice bowls" from the perspective of big food
When we talk about food security now, it's actually about food security
Opening the 2025 agricultural production report card, in addition to a bountiful harvest of grain, meat production exceeds 100 million tons, and there is ample supply of eggs, milk, fruits, vegetables, and aquatic products. Nowadays, the harvest has shifted in space from "thousands of miles of fertile land" to "mountains, waters, forests, fields, lakes, grasses, and sands".
A large yellow croaker plays the song of the ocean.
From endangered to industrial rebirth, the Ningde yellow croaker in Fujian has emerged from the "blue granary" and swam to thousands of households.
After more than 30 years of continuous efforts in breeding innovation, intelligent breeding, and nitrogen locking freshness, the output value of the entire industry chain of Ningde yellow croaker has exceeded 20 billion yuan. This fish reflects the strategic depth of China's food security.
When I was working in Fujian, I worked in mountainous areas and also along the coast. At that time, I proposed the concept of big food, which includes meat, eggs, poultry, milk, fish, fruits, mushrooms, tea... These are all grains. Nowadays, when we talk about food security, it's actually about food security
The concept of big food, connected with the concept of people's livelihood and development, has been carefully planned by General Secretary Xi Jinping.
From the perspective of the depth of national resources, in addition to arable land, China also has over 4 billion acres of forest land, nearly 4 billion acres of grassland, and a large number of rivers, lakes, and seas
From the perspective of the potential of the agricultural industry, 'if it is suitable for grain, then for grain; if it is suitable for economy, then for economy; if it is suitable for animal husbandry, then for animal husbandry; if it is suitable for fishing, then for fishing; if it is suitable for forest, then for forest'.
From the trend of consumption upgrading, it can be seen that "grasping the changing trend of the people's food structure, while ensuring the supply of food, can also guarantee the effective supply of various types of food such as meat, vegetables, fruits, and aquatic products. Without any of them, it is not enough
Behind the abundance of dining tables for over 1.4 billion people is the transformation of "rice bowls" and industries. Fill the "rice bags" to ensure the "vegetable baskets", "fruit plates", "oil bottles", and "milk jars", expand resources, space, and industries in various regions, demand food from forests, rivers, lakes, and seas, and from facility agriculture, build a diversified food supply system, and better meet the needs of people for a better life.
One grain of rice "expands the connotation of food security.
Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center of Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences is accelerating the innovation of rice breeding. The "Qingliangyou 3261" salt alkali tolerant variety, the "Shuangliangyou" series of mid season rice, and the "Jiuliangyou" series of late season rice have all entered the dining tables of residents.
Breeding new rice varieties that are high-yielding, delicious, and safe is our unremitting pursuit, "said Yu Yinghong, President of Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
The safety on the tip of the tongue, "General Secretary Xi Jinping said," Food safety is the most important thing, and the people can eat with peace of mind. This is what I am most concerned about
To ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products, strictness is the top priority. By 2025, the pass rate of routine monitoring of agricultural product quality and safety in China will reach 98%, and the utilization rate of fertilizers and pesticides will be further improved. The total number of green food, organic products, famous and excellent new agricultural products, and geographical indication agricultural products has exceeded 88000, and positive progress has been made in the comprehensive green transformation of agricultural development.
Building a strong agricultural country, achieving modernization of agriculture and rural areas, and strong industrial resilience are important features. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to "strive to build agriculture into a modern large-scale industry".
A single wheat connects the industrial upgrading chain.
Binzhou, Shandong, has transformed over 600 types of wheat products. From using wheat flour to make noodles and bread, to using wheat processing residue bran to make dietary fiber powder, and then extracting arabinoxylan from by-product distiller's grains... With the support of technology, the chain is extended and the output value is upgraded.
The field is connected to the workshop, and the workshop is connected to the kitchen. In the first half of this year, the added value of agricultural and sideline food processing industries above designated size in China increased by 4.8% year-on-year. The innovation chain is built on the industrial chain. Since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has supported the construction of 40 advantageous characteristic industrial clusters, 50 modern agricultural industrial parks, and 200 strong agricultural towns, creating a platform and industrial highland for modern agricultural development.
The relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs stated that it is necessary to establish a big agricultural and food concept, actively develop solar greenhouses, intensive farming, etc., build offshore pastures and "blue granaries", actively develop agroforestry, enrich "forest granaries", cultivate and strengthen advantageous industries according to local conditions, and achieve the unity of food security and modern and efficient agriculture.
In the golden autumn, there is fertile land and a bountiful harvest is in sight. Season by season cultivation, year by year continuation, firmly holding the rice bowl in one's own hands, laying a solid foundation for the rejuvenation of the country! (Outlook New Era)
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