National Press Foundation published a summary, video, and transcript of a talk with senior research fellow Joseph Glauber and others on China’s new food security policies: Should Beijing’s 5-Year Plan For “Absolute” Food Security Worry Other Nations?” outlines a plan to counter food shortages in 2025. With one in six people in the world dependent on international trade for food, will massive Chinese food purchases cause higher food prices around the world? Glauber argued that demand for food grains will decline over the next few years. “USDA, FAO and OECD are looking at annual increases of about 1 percent." He also stated that China’s farmland purchases in Africa aren’t a big concern, but contract farming may be a danger zone for African farmers. He doesn’t see competition threats from China, and land acquisition is minor in areas like the U.S. and Africa.
