Ensuring food security has always been an important task for Chinese policymakers, but, historically, its focus has been on the production of staple grains. In contrast, the “big food” concept refers to a new view of the food supply, moving on from an emphasis on grain production to include food diversity, nutrition, and health. The concept emphasizes the need to ensure the effective supply of meat, dairy, vegetables, aquatic, and other diversified food products, while maintaining self-sufficiency in grain production.
This contribution to our “Making sense of …” series argues that despite the concept’s potential to radically reshape Beijing’s view of the food supply, it fails to address the deeper tensions characterizing China’s food security strategy.
Author: Michaela Boehme (DCZ)
