On 25 November, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Agricultural Trade Promotion Center (ATPC) of China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) jointly launched the Domestic Support Policies in the Context of Agri-food System Transformation: International Comparative Study Project. The project aims to systematically sort out China’s domestic agricultural support policies and conduct comparative study on agricultural support policies in major countries/regions worldwide, providing valuable insights for policymaking in the context of agri-food systems transformation.

Ma Hongtao, Director-General of ATPC, emphasized that this project represents a milestone that marks the first collaborative research effort between ATPC and FAO. “We are willing to take this as a new starting point to further deepen our exchange and cooperation and make greater contribution to promoting global agricultural growth and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Vinod Ahuja, FAO Representative ad interim in China, stated that the domestic support policies are key to agricultural trade and development. “This project will help ensure stable income for farmers, boost agricultural productivity, and strengthen food security, whilst promoting agricultural trade and market access.”

Ma Jianlei, Director of the Research Institute of ATPC, explained that the project will conduct comparative studies from multiple angles in the next two years. These include the evolution process and characteristics of agricultural support policies in major countries/regions, the status quo and trends of international agricultural support policies, a comparison of agricultural support policies in major countries/regions, and China’s agricultural support policies: historical evolution, essential characteristics, and existing problems. The project's findings will be compiled into a publication titled Domestic Support Policies in the Context of Agri-food System Transformation: International Comparative Study.

Experts such as Zhu Jing, Zhongshan Chief Professor and Director of International Food and Agricultural Economic Research Center, Nanjing Agriculture University, Fan Shenggen, Dean of Academy of Global Food Economics and Policy (AGFEP), China Agricultural University and Former Director-General of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Kaoru Nabeshima, Professor of Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University, Li Xiande, Researcher of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences (CAAS) and Former Member of the high Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE-FSN) of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), Hyung Jin Jeon, Representative of Korea Rural Economic Institute Representation in China, Tian Zhihong, Professor of China Agricultural University, Aziz Arya, South-South Cooperation Officer and Project Lead Technical Officer, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, provided professional advice and opinions from their respective perspectives.