China targets global protein market dominance to ensure food security

China is implementing a large-scale strategic plan to secure its food supply and reduce dependence on imports. Through the Politburo’s 15th five-year plan, the country is leveraging state power and finance to address vulnerabilities caused by limited arable land and freshwater resources.

According to analysts at consultancy Systemiq, China is applying a development model similar to its previous successes in solar power and electric vehicles. The strategy focuses on achieving dominance in the mass manufacture of protein through technologies such as genetically modified crops, cellular agriculture, lab-grown proteins, and precision fermentation.

Projections suggest a significant shift in consumption by mid-century, with alternative protein sources potentially accounting for half of China’s fish and beef consumption and 40 per cent of its dairy products. This shift is expected to have global spillover effects on food supply chains.