On October 18, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China held a press conference announcing plans to establish several high-standard bases aimed at enhancing the supply capacity of forest foods.
During the event, Wang Junzhong, Director of the Forestry and Grassland Reform and Development Division, emphasized that developing forest food production will not compete with traditional agriculture for land. He highlighted that this initiative not only brings ecological, economic, and social benefits but is also a crucial step toward building a diversified food supply system that ensures national food security. According to Wang, significant progress has been made in forest food development thanks to the collective efforts of various stakeholders in recent years.
Wang noted that China is home to hundreds of tree species with food production capabilities, making its forests a vast “granary.” Currently, the country’s forest food production capacity is on the rise, with a planting area for economic forests reaching 70 million acres and over 60 million acres dedicated to under-forest economic utilization. The annual output of various forest foods exceeds 200 million tons, equating to 140 kilograms per person, making forest products the third largest agricultural category in China following grains and vegetables. The range of products has expanded significantly, including diverse offerings such as camellia oil and olive oil, ample supplies of chestnuts, pine nuts, and jujubes, along with a variety of fruits and an exciting array of new products like forest specialty foods, wood-based seasonings, and beverages. Additionally, under-forest farming and livestock activities now account for approximately 4.9 billion poultry and over 50 million livestock, greatly enriching the diets of local residents.
Wang also stated that the development of forest food production not only enhances the forest “granary” but also enriches the forest “treasury,” making it a vital strategy for rural revitalization. Out of more than 2,800 counties nationwide, over 2,400 are cultivating economic forests, with an annual output value exceeding 2 trillion yuan (approximately $300 billion), and under-forest economies generating about 1 trillion yuan (around $150 billion), which has helped millions of forestry workers improve their livelihoods.
Looking ahead, Wang outlined four key initiatives to advance this agenda: first, to promote superior seeds, techniques, and practices that increase yield per unit area; second, to accelerate the construction of bases for large-scale, standardized, and specialized planting in regions favorable for forestry oilseed and grain production, while encouraging the establishment of under-forest economic bases; third, to enhance supportive policies and increase financial investment; and fourth, to strengthen technological support for industry upgrades.
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