China is rapidly advancing “high-protein” corn development to help decrease its dependence on soybean imports. Researchers at Huazhong Agricultural University have engineered corn varieties containing +10% protein, two percentage points higher than conventional strains. Each +1% protein increase could slash China’s soybean import demand by -8 million tonnes annually, directly supporting President Xi Jinping’s mandate to secure the country’s food sovereignty through technological innovation. This strategic shift aligns with broader efforts to mitigate geopolitical risks and achieve agricultural self-sufficiency, particularly after vulnerabilities exposed during recent U.S.-China trade disputes. By replacing foreign soybeans with domestic high-protein corn, China aims to strengthen control over its food supply chain while reducing exposure to international market fluctuations.
High-protein corn is primarily intended to supplement animal feed, addressing the shortage of protein-rich feed grains in livestock farming, according to Li Wenqiang, associate professor at Huazhong Agricultural University. Li explained that increasing the protein content in animal feed promotes healthier growth, enhances immunity, and improves the quality of meat, eggs, and dairy products. It also boosts feed utilization efficiency, leading to higher profitability for farmers.
According to the General Administration of Customs of China, last year, China imported 105 million tons of soybeans, accounting for about 60% of the global grain trade volume. The issue is that 23% of this import volume relies on the United States. According to Yan, for China to achieve self-sufficiency without importing soybeans, it needs to secure an additional million acres of soybean cultivation area. However, considering the current population and land circumstances, Yan believes this is not feasible.
China’s reliance on the United States for soybean imports has become a leverage point for the country. As the U.S.-China trade dispute escalated in 2018, China imposed additional tariffs on U.S. soybeans and shifted its import sources to Brazilian soybeans. Since the 4th of March, it has also increased tariffs on U.S. soybeans by 10%. This is in response to the overall 20% increase in tariffs on Chinese imports by the United States over the last two months. However, the high reliance on U.S. soybeans represents a potential weakness for China. This is why Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasizes that the rice bowl of the Chinese people must be firmly held in the hands of the Chinese people whenever tensions escalate in U.S.-China relations, or the possibility of war with Taiwan arises. SCMP reported that China has been steadily working to diversify its soybean supply in recent years, adding that U.S. soybeans currently account for more than one-fifth of China’s imports, down from 40% a decade ago.
This year, China plans to further strengthen its food security through the diversification of soybean imports and the expansion of domestic yields. According to the Chinese financial media Financial Sector, China imposing a 10% tariff on U.S. soybeans may lead to an increase in domestic import expenses in the short term, and domestic feed companies are looking towards alternative suppliers in Brazil and Argentina, noting that the key method to reduce dependence on U.S. agricultural products is to increase the level of domestic yields.
While the full impact of China’s high-protein corn remains to be seen, it could reshape agricultural trade patterns and significantly affect U.S. soybean exports in the medium to long term. The U.S. agricultural sector will need to closely monitor these developments and consider diversifying its export markets to mitigate potential losses. (Source: bastillepost.com, biz.chosun.com)
