China's leaders are becoming increasingly strict on food waste. From farms to restaurants, authorities want more data to control this negative phenomenon. China, due to its natural constraints on agricultural land, is incapable to make agricultural production indefinitely. Its weak growth in relation to the rate of consumption (and waste) growth raises concerns for the authorities about the ability of the country to feed.
Last period a central government plan was presented, which calls for accurate data on food waste to be available by the end of 2027.
The nonsubjective of the plan is to "decrease failure rates below global standards" at all stages of production, processing, transport and food storage. The plan calls on restaurants, workplaces and school canteens to "seem to reduce" the amount of food discarded.
China has done this before.
The Food Disposal Act, which entered into force in 2021, prohibits restaurants from encouraging customers to order besides many dishes, and tv networks from showing programs to advance overeating.
The Food Safety Act passed last year (2023) combines unchangeable food supply with economical improvement and national security.
However, even after the introduction of these legislation, the National improvement and improvement Committee – a Chinese economical planning body – claims that there are inactive many "controversialities and problems" in the way society treats food.
Restaurants frequently find signs to encourage customers to leave behind a “shining plate” by eating all the food. However, excessive feasting and resulting waste of remains, is inactive part of Chinese gastronomy culture, especially during business dinners and events specified as weddings and funerals.
Meanwhile, the country is fighting to increase agricultural production. As more and more young people live in cities, agrarian populations fell to 477 million in 2023, almost a 4th compared to 2013.
The amount of land under food crops – cereals, potatoes and legumes – has changed small over the last 15 years and the increase in production has slowed down.
Imports are an crucial component in gathering Chinese nutritional needs. However, the decision-makers fear that tensions in relations with the United States, which are expected to emergence after President-elect Donald Trump takes office, increase the hazard of China's dependence on imported food.
The recently announced plan shows that the leadership of the Communist organization sees food waste as part of the problem.
The cost of surviving may be another origin in combating food waste. The price of pork, a basic ingredient of Chinese diet, increased by more than 10% over the year, as reported by the National Statistical Office. China's leaders, always alert to signs of social unrest, can see the simplification of waste as a way to stabilise food prices by balancing supply and demand.
Leszek B. Glass
Email: [email protected]
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