7th China Grain Trading Conference underscores role of innovation in food security

CHINA – The 7th China Grain Trading Conference, held from July 13 to 15 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, underscored China’s growing emphasis on integrating technological innovation into its grain industry.

The event served as a key platform for promoting modernization across the grain supply chain, from production to processing and distribution, through innovation and cross-sector collaboration.

This year’s theme focused on enhancing grain circulation and building a collaborative ecosystem that connects enterprises, research institutions, and technology developers. Organizers emphasized the importance of fostering research-to-market pathways to accelerate agricultural modernization and increase the sector’s overall productivity and resilience, according to People.cn.

The exhibition spotlighted a range of advanced agricultural technologies and business models. Innovations such as “field robots,” intelligent grain production lines, and smart storage systems were prominently featured.

Enterprises from Tieling, Liaoning, presented grain processing equipment designed to improve automation and reduce environmental impact.

China’s scientific and technological innovation in agriculture is playing an increasingly pivotal role in grain production and post-harvest operations.

According to the industry data, technological progress contributed over 63% to grain production outcomes in 2023. This progress is evident in the localization of high-end agricultural machinery, development of high-yield seed varieties, digital monitoring for precision farming, and adoption of smart storage systems.

In May 2024, China’s Ministry of Science and Technology released a list of 10 major technological innovations in grain circulation. Among them is a smart, green grain storage system featuring high-precision monitoring, IoT-based traceability, and automated risk warning mechanisms, technologies aimed at enhancing storage efficiency and reducing post-harvest losses, China Science and Technology Daily reported.

Despite facing extreme weather events, including droughts, floods, and typhoons, China reported a record grain harvest in 2024. Production surpassed 1.4 trillion jin (706.5 million tonnes), reinforcing the resilience of the country’s agricultural sector.

Still, officials at the conference emphasized that grain production is only one component of a much broader industry. The entire supply chain, from storage to transport and trading, must also adapt to emerging technological and environmental challenges.

More than 30 countries were represented by businesses and industry associations, underscoring China’s role as a global player in grain trade and agricultural innovation. The National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration noted that this growing international participation opens new avenues for technology transfer and trade cooperation.

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