UK - China Partnership for Global Food Security

19th October 2009, London. The UK and China signed an agreement to address global food needs, which will see the UK facilitating Chinese agricultural expertise to help countries in Africa, backed by ￡3.4 million.
China feeds one fifth of the world’s population, despite having only seven per cent of its total arable land, thanks to its rapid modernisation and innovation in agricultural techniques. Under the new food security action plan, the UK will work with China to make this expertise available globally to countries facing food insecurity and famine.
The UK and China are each pledging ￡1.7 million for this initiative. The agreement was signed by Development Minister Mike Foster and Food and Farming Minister Lord Davies on behalf of the UK Government and Vice Minister for Agriculture Gao Hongbin on behalf of the Chinese Government.
International Development Minister Mike Foster said:
“In just thirty years, China’s agricultural expertise has expanded rapidly. They’ve developed new techniques and demonstrated innovation in feeding a huge population with only a little land available. If we can work together to share this expertise on a wider scale, we can take a significant step towards improving global food security and achieving the goal of halving world hunger by 2015.
“The agreement sets out ways to share and develop agricultural research, improve food quality and food safety and promote agricultural trade. And with 265 million people hungry in sub-Saharan Africa, it will also set out ways in which the UK and China can work with African partners to develop sustainable agriculture and fisheries there. With an estimated population of 9 billion globally by 2050, it’s vital that we look to act now to ensure that no matter where someone is born in the world, they can be fed safely and sustainably.”

Mike Foster, Minister for International Development and Gao Hongbin, Chinese Vice Minister for Agriculture sign an agreement on food security between the UK and China