Dim Sums: Agricultural Markets in China

A feed mill in China's Guangdong Province has been fined by authorities for using unapproved genetically modified corn as raw material. Could this be a signal that Chinese officials are ready to crack down on corn imports? The announcement was featured in news media as one of 10 "representative cases" of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs' campaign to "stabilize grain production, protect supply." Authorities say traces of imported GMO corn were found in the company's processing equipment in a sample inspection for GMOs. The feed company had not obtained a license to process agricultural GMOs. The batch of illegally processed corn totaled 31.02 metric tons. The corn had already been processed, but final products had not been sold, according to the description of the case. The company was fined 101,000 yuan (less than $14,000) and products were destroyed. Chinese agricultural authorities announce "representative cases" in GMO crackdow...

"' Borax pork' appears in the market again, serious investigation! " was the headline of a Guangzhou Daily article posted on many Chinese web sites earlier this month--including official Xinhua News. The article warned consumers that inspectors found that market vendors used borax to keep their pork moist and fresh-looking in a food market in south China. This appears to be a straightforward warning to consumers. But picking apart this "news" shows how authorities carefully control reporting of problems to manage public opinion and deflect blame for problems. According to the "borax pork" warning, borax was discovered during a "surprise inspection" of two food market vendors selling meatballs and pork in Panyu--a manufacturing hub and satellite city of Guangzhou in south China. Inspectors seized a box of borax used by a vendor to clean pig intestines, and chemical testing detected borax in some samples of meat. The inspection was carried...

The billions of RMB paid out to mitigate flooding and drought in China--including directives to replant crops in September within a month or two of harvest--suggest substantial damage to grain crops. Yet, Chinese authorities are sure to announce another huge harvest this year.  Funding of 732 million RMB was announced September 1, 2023 by the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for drought mitigation in Gansu and Shaanxi Province; recovery from typhoon damage to crops in Jilin and Heilongjiang Province; and control of rice pests and diseases in Jiangxi and Hunan Provinces.  On August 25, the Gansu Provincial finance and agricultural departments issued 50 million RMB for emergency drought relief that paid for seeds, fertilizer, agricultural plastics and equipment to replant crops, and water engineering in the province. On August 30, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs held its videoconference to discuss use of agricultural machinery fo...