Multi-Scenario Simulation Analysis of Grain Production and Demand in China during the Peak Population Period

Bibliographic Details
Title: Multi-Scenario Simulation Analysis of Grain Production and Demand in China during the Peak Population Period
Authors: Xiang Wang, Wenli Qiang, Shuwen Niu, Anna Growe, Simin Yan, Nan Tian
Source: Foods, Vol 11, Iss 11, p 1566 (2022)
Publisher Information: MDPI AG, 2022.
Publication Year: 2022
Collection: LCC:Chemical technology
Subject Terms: demand scenarios, production projections, gap, population peak, China, food security, Chemical technology, TP1-1185
More Details: The transformation of dietary structure brought about by economic development in populous countries is expected to trigger an increase in grain demand, which will put enormous pressure on the grain supply in these nations and even globally. We simulated nine demand scenarios for 2020–2050 based on China’s dataset for 15 kinds of grains from 1961–2018. The results show that the maximum difference between the predicted grain demand is 323.8 Mt, equal to the total grain consumption of approximately 600 million Chinese people in one year. To capture which demand scenarios will be met when grain productivity gradually improves within reasonable ranges, we present three projections from the production side. In particular, Projection 1 (P1), which maintains productivity at the current level, only fulfills the projected demand for Scenarios 1-LL, 2-LM, 4-ML, and 7-HL and falls short of the maximum value (Scenario 9-HH) by 117 Mt, which requires an additional 250,000 ha of arable land resources to fill the gap. After raising the preset value of grain yield, the productivity of Projection 2 in turn satisfies the demand scenario 5-MM. When both set variables (grain yields and arable area) increase simultaneously, the output of Projection 3 increases by 15.3% over P1. However, it still lags behind the demand of 68 million tons in Scenario 9-HH, thus implying uncertainty in China’s vision of meeting the goal of 95% grain self-sufficiency. Rather than pursuing a single outcome, we discuss multiple possibilities for China’s future grain balance and emphasize the adjusting and compensating role of grain trade and storage in the whole system. Ultimately, this paper calls for a better understanding of the supply–demand gap therein and its future trends to support national grain security as well as global sustainable food policies.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2304-8158
Relation: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/11/1566; https://doaj.org/toc/2304-8158
DOI: 10.3390/foods11111566
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/396a0d1700e4460da05666a1a575699d
Accession Number: edsdoj.396a0d1700e4460da05666a1a575699d
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:23048158
DOI:10.3390/foods11111566
Published in:Foods
Language:English