China's food, nutrition security faces challenges: report

BEIJING - The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) said in a report Wednesday that China's food security faces pressure that warrants government action.

"Manufacturing and services are replacing agriculture as economic drivers, which may impact food security," noted the 2014-2015 Global Food Policy Report.

Shenggen Fan, IFPRI's director general, said industrialization and urbanization have reduced the already limited arable land base, hampering efforts to improve food security.

China increasingly suffers from a "triple burden of malnutrition" (undernourishment, micronutrient deficiencies and obesity), according to the Washington-based institute.

As China becomes more affluent and consumer preferences change, micronutrient deficiencies and obesity are on the rise -- 1.5 to 2 times higher than 1991 levels, said the IFPRI report.

"If China is to make significant headway toward improving food security, then steps need to be made to promote sustainable agriculture," said Fan.

More specifically, China's scarce and degraded natural resources call for greater research and development of efficient agricultural technology and practices, Fan said.

"As more people leave the country for urban areas, government policies should enable remaining residents to increase their farm's size," said Fan.

Critical steps in this direction include certification of land rights, proper rental and sale markets, and fairer compensation for requisitions.