Editor's note: Hu Bingchuan is a professor of the Rural Development Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Agricultural cooperation is a crucial aspect of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), with a focus on food security. This will not only enhance the well-being of SCO member nations but also contribute to the global goal of "zero hunger."

According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, an estimated 690 to 783 million people worldwide suffered from hunger in 2022, an increase of 122 million compared to 2019. SCO member nations represent 42 percent of the global population, and their grain and meat production comprises 39 percent and 35 percent of the global total, respectively. Given the current situation, there is significant potential for agricultural development and food security cooperation among SCO countries. 

On September 17, 2021, a statement by the Council of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Food Security was adopted in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. It covers various areas of cooperation, including the trade of agricultural products, plant quarantine, smart agriculture, technology dissemination, personnel training, and voluntary exchange of information on food security, all contributing to both international and regional food security.

Take Kazakhstan, for example. In 2021, the country sowed grain on approximately 16 million hectares of land, yielding around 16 million tonnes of grain at a rate of 1 tonne per hectare. This leaves a significant margin for increased production compared to the global average of 4 tonnes per hectare.

Kazakhstan, a major wheat exporter, ships around 3.5 million tonnes of wheat annually, primarily to Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. Through SCO cooperation on food security, Kazakhstan's wheat products have reached Chinese city Lianyungang and eventually the Southeast Asian market via the China-Europe Railway Express. This will facilitate Kazakhstan's wheat production and benefit more countries and consumers.

It's clear that natural conditions are vital factors influencing food production within the SCO. Cooperation on food security within the SCO also drives continuous improvements in agricultural infrastructure, further strengthening agricultural collaboration.

For instance, the China-aided irrigation system renovation project was completed in three irrigation districts in the Issyk-Kul and Batken regions of Kyrgyzstan in 2021. The project has expanded the irrigated area by approximately 2,310 hectares, boosted food production capacity, and created around 500 jobs for local residents, benefiting more people.

Currently, a new round of agricultural revolution is underway worldwide, placing higher demands on international agricultural cooperation. SCO cooperation on food security needs to be expanded to cover areas such as pest and disease control, natural disaster forecasting, market information sharing, and agricultural investment. 

Conservatism and isolation will not help resolve food security issues; cooperation is the solution. Food security is a fundamental issue concerning human survival. 

By prioritizing food security cooperation on the SCO platform, we can continuously upgrade agricultural infrastructure and advance the new round of agricultural revolution. In fact, the SCO is pioneering a path toward the global goal of "zero hunger."