China Cuts Grain Losses with Tech Advances, Targets International Average
September marked the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, highlighting the pressing issue of food waste globally. According to the FAO, a staggering 13.2% of food produced worldwide is lost after harvest and before reaching retail, equivalent to 1.25 billion tonnes.
In China, however, technological advancements have significantly reduced grain losses during various stages of production. The application of smart agriculture, intelligent machinery, green grain storage, and digital monitoring technologies has supported the goal of ensuring every grain makes it to the granary.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs reported a notable decrease in wheat, rice, and corn mechanized harvest loss rates in 2024 compared to 2021. The average mechanized wheat harvest loss rate in east China's Shandong Province reached an impressive 0.81% in 2024.
The National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration has implemented demonstration sites for integrated green grain storage technologies, with the 'five-in-one' technology system being refined. Qin Yuyun, deputy director of the administration, stated that the average annual grain loss during storage, processing, and transportation accounted for approximately 2% of total annual grain production.