China steps up focus on food security in major policy document

Soybeans are harvested in Heilongjiang province. - Xinhua

BEIJING (Reuters): China will put greater pressure on its regions to boost grain yields and step up support for its domestic seed industry as it strengthens its focus on food security after the Covid-19 pandemic, a major policy document issued late on Sunday (Feb 21) showed.

The annual rural policy blueprint, known as the "No. 1 document", placed greater emphasis on food security than in prior years, calling for all provinces to improve grain yields during the 2021-2025 period.