China’s success in economic development is nothing short of extraordinary and has been the subject of countless studies. Relatively little attention, however, has been paid to the fundamental role that improvements in agriculture and nutrition played in lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and hunger.
Thirty years ago, when the World Food Programme (WFP) was first invited to China, one in three Chinese citizens was undernourished. Food shortages had plagued the vast nation for centuries and were at the root of many of the dynastic changes that have marked its history. Today, China grows sufficient food to meet the needs of a fifth of the world’s population from less than a tenth of its arable land. In recent years it has even been a net exporter of cereals.
At a moment when the number of hungry people is rising again and when questions are raised about the world’s ability to continue to produce enough food for a growing population in the face of climate change and rising costs, it is helpful to look at China’s experience to learn lessons from its success and from areas that still require improvement.

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