China Boosts Domestic Food Production to Reduce Reliance on U.S. Crops

Beijing's push for food security includes investments in agricultural technology and infrastructure

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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China is making concerted efforts to boost domestic food production and reduce its reliance on U.S. agricultural imports, particularly soybeans and corn. This includes investments in agricultural technology, infrastructure development in rural areas, and policies aimed at increasing crop yields and self-sufficiency. While the U.S. has repeatedly asked China to buy more American farm products, Beijing's focus is on achieving food security through boosting domestic production.

Why it matters

China's push for food security has significant implications for U.S. farmers and the global agricultural trade landscape. As China reduces its reliance on U.S. crops, American farmers may need to seek out new export markets. The story also highlights the broader U.S.-China trade tensions and Beijing's goal of becoming less dependent on other countries for its food supply.

The details

China is developing higher-protein corn that could replace significant amounts of soybean imports, which are mainly used for animal feed. By 2030, China aims to cut the amount of soymeal in animal feed to just 10%. Beijing is also investing heavily in agricultural research and development, with public sector spending roughly double that of the U.S. in recent years. This has allowed China to commercialize its first generation of biotech seeds that improved corn yield by 10%, reducing corn imports. China is also using technology and targeted policies to boost yields on its limited farmland, including e-commerce expansion into rural areas and the use of agricultural drones and AI-powered software to optimize regional production.

  • Over the past decade, trade tensions have led the U.S. to repeatedly ask China to buy more American agricultural products.
  • In 2025, China's corn imports are expected to drop to 2.65 million metric tons, down from peak levels of nearly 30 million metric tons in 2022 and 2023.
  • Last year, China started commercializing its first generation of biotech seeds that improved corn yield by 10%.
  • By 2030, China aims to cut the amount of soymeal in animal feed to just 10%.

The players

China

The world's most populous country, which is making concerted efforts to boost domestic food production and reduce reliance on U.S. agricultural imports.

United States

A major agricultural exporter that has repeatedly asked China to buy more American farm products, but has faced challenges as China focuses on achieving food security through domestic production.

Syngenta

A Chinese-owned agritech giant that is reportedly trying to go public in Hong Kong to support investments in research and development, as it builds an agricultural edge that could also compete overseas.

Qicaihong

A tech company that has expanded from China's Silicon Valley to a rural part of Yunnan province to standardize local corn production for bigger markets, using sensors, software, and AI to optimize regional production.

Laojieji

A brand under which farmers in China's northeastern Heilongjiang province can process and sell their corn nationwide and abroad, after processing it at a centralized plant.

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What they’re saying

“While corn fields and tractors dominate much of rural America's plains, on a similar drive through China's countryside, I'd see more mountains — and far more people still working the land by hand. The difference for urban consumers in China is that those farms are more connected to the internet and high-speed trains.”

— Evelyn Cheng, CNBC Reporter (CNBC)

What’s next

China is expected to continue investing heavily in agricultural research and development, as it works to further boost domestic food production and reduce reliance on imports. The country's efforts to commercialize new biotech seeds and optimize regional crop production using technology are likely to continue.

The takeaway

China's push for food security through domestic production represents a significant shift in the global agricultural landscape, with potential long-term implications for U.S. farmers and the broader U.S.-China trade relationship. The story highlights how China is leveraging technology, infrastructure, and targeted policies to achieve its goals, even as it faces challenges in improving food quality perceptions.