On 28 May 2026, the Sino-German Agricultural Centre (DCZ) hosted the eleventh edition of its DCZ TALKS webinar series. Under the title “China–Germany agricultural policy update: impact on market access, trade, and investment,” the webinar explored how major policy developments in China and the European Union are shaping the future of agricultural production, trade, and competitiveness. Speakers included Prof. Long Wenjun from the Research Center for Rural Economy of China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) and Prof. Dr. Thomas Herzfeld from the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO).
Prof. Long presented the key priorities of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) for agriculture and rural development. He highlighted continued efforts to strengthen food security, agricultural productivity, and rural revitalization, while placing greater emphasis on innovation-driven development. According to Prof. Long, sectors such as the seed industry, smart agriculture, and green and low-carbon production are expected to benefit particularly from upcoming policy support. He also pointed to opportunities for closer China–Europe cooperation by combining German and European strengths in agricultural machinery, livestock systems, and high-quality technologies with China’s economies of scale, manufacturing capabilities, and growing leadership in artificial intelligence.
Providing a European perspective, Prof. Herzfeld discussed current reforms of the EU’s agricultural policy framework and their implications for competitiveness and trade. While environmental ambitions have been partially softened in recent policy discussions, he noted that European agriculture will continue to operate under demanding sustainability and environmental standards. These requirements, together with climate policies and changing market conditions, are likely to influence production costs, competitiveness, and future trade patterns. At the same time, support for sustainable agricultural production remains a central pillar of EU policy.
The webinar provided participants from government, academia, and the private sector with an opportunity to compare policy developments in China and Europe and discuss their implications for future Sino-German cooperation in agriculture and the food sector.
