Forests and foods

Editor's note: The increasing frequency of extreme weather events driven by climate change, coupled with geopolitical factors, has intensified global food insecurity. As part of its Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations calls for building a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient food system. In recognition of the 2025 International Day of Forests, themed "Forests and Foods," Jia Liming, professor and dean of the School of Forestry at Beijing Forestry University, examines China's efforts in this field. As the nation with the world's largest area of planted forests and the most significant increase in greenery, China's forests play a vital role in ensuring food security and maintaining ecological balance. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

The theme of the 2025 International Day of Forests, "Forests and Foods," aligns with the concept of forests as "reservoirs, treasuries, granaries and carbon sinks" and echoes China's "big food" concept.

Forests serve not only as a vital source of food for humanity but also play a crucial role in ensuring food security, maintaining the ecological balance of farmland and supporting the economic development of farmers.

Nature's 'green granary'

Since ancient times, forests have been a vital source of food for humanity, with nuts like chestnuts playing a significant role in early diets. Today, forests continue to provide a diverse range of edible resources, including wild fruits (such as blueberries), nuts (like walnuts, chestnuts and hazelnuts), oilseeds (such as oil-seed camellia and olives), fungi (like matsutake and wood ear), honey and bamboo shoots. In China, annual forest food production has reached 200 million tonnes, averaging 140 kilograms per capita, making it the country's third-largest agricultural product after grains and vegetables.

The development of forest-based food does not compete with arable land. Instead, it maximizes the efficient use of resources through economic forests spanning nearly 47 million hectares and understory economies covering 40 million hectares of forest land, aligning with the strategic vision of "seeking food from forests" within the "big food" concept. Moreover, forest food – valued for its natural, eco-friendly qualities – has strong market competitiveness. A prime example is the state-owned Paiyangshan Forest Farm in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where "star anise-scented chickens" are raised under the canopy of star anise trees, gaining widespread popularity among consumers.

Guardians of farmland ecological security

Forests not only serve as direct sources of food but also play a crucial role in safeguarding farmland production through their essential ecological functions. The farmland shelterbelt system, for example, effectively mitigates wind damage, improves soil fertility and preserves the ecological integrity of agricultural landscapes. A notable example is the forest ecosystem surrounding the Hani Terraces in Yunnan Province, which has helped sustain a thousand-year-old agricultural tradition. Furthermore, forests are home to 80 percent of terrestrial species, providing invaluable natural support for crop pollination and pest control.

The Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP) in China has achieved remarkable success. A total of 1.656 million hectares of farmland shelterbelts and 7.882 million hectares of windbreak and sand-fixation forests have been established, while 336,000 square kilometers of desertified land have been effectively managed. As a result, grain production in the program areas has increased by 15 to 20 percent.

A driving force for rural revitalization and increased farmer incomes

Forests not only promote ecological balance in agriculture but also drive economic growth and enhance farmers' incomes through industrial development. In 2024, China's forestry industry achieved a total output value of 10.17 trillion yuan (about $1.4 trillion), contributing 7.54 percent to the national economy. Notably, the annual output value of economic forests exceeded 2 trillion yuan, while the understory economy generated approximately 1 trillion yuan, benefiting tens of millions of forest farmers.

Furthermore, the forest food processing industry continues to expand, increasing product value and market reach. For example, the annual output value of bamboo weaving in Anxi County, Fujian Province, has reached 5 billion yuan, while Lin'an District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, generates over 3 billion yuan annually from walnut production, with exports to European and American markets. Advanced processing techniques, such as bamboo shoot preservation and walnut oil extraction, are driving the industry toward higher value-added products, aligning with the growing demand for healthy consumption.

The role of forests in climate change and food security

Global climate change has led to more frequent extreme weather events, posing a serious threat to food security. As a major carbon sink, forests absorb approximately 25 percent of global carbon emissions each year, helping to mitigate climate change's impact on agriculture. For instance, the 75,000 hectares of planted forests at the Saihanba Mechanized Forest Farm sequester 810,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and release 550,000 tonnes of oxygen annually, contributing to improved regional climate conditions. A United Nations report emphasizes that forest conservation is essential for meeting the temperature control targets of the Paris Agreement.

Achieving a dynamic balance between forests and farmland

A systems-thinking approach and multi-stakeholder collaboration are essential for reconciling ecological preservation with agricultural production, ultimately achieving a sustainable balance between forests and farmland.

China is actively developing innovative agroforestry management models, such as mulberry-dike fish ponds, tung tree intercropping, poplar intercropping, understory planting and understory breeding. These approaches promote multi-industry synergy and enhance farmers' overall income.

The TSFP integrates windbreaks, economic forests and farmland shelterbelts to boost farmland resilience. In the Hetao Plain, this has raised the effective temperature during corn tasseling by 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, increasing crop yields and boosting economic forest incomes by 12000 yuan per hectare.

The Grain for Green program has been vital for ecological restoration and agriculture. Between 1999 and 2020, the central government invested 535.3 billion yuan to convert 34.8 million plots of farmland into forests and grasslands across 25 provinces, benefiting 158 million farmers.

Global collaboration and future outlook

As global food security challenges intensify, the UN calls for sustainable, resilient food systems. Moving forward, China should enhance international cooperation, promote low-carbon, sustainable agricultural practices and advance forest management and agroforestry models, contributing Chinese solutions to global food security.

China has the world's largest area of planted forests, making up nearly a third of the global total. By integrating ecological barrier construction, forest food supply and industrial growth, forests offer dual benefits of environmental improvement and expanded food security sources. Moving forward, China should continue promoting sustainable forest use, enhancing their role in food security, climate change mitigation and rural revitalization.

(Cover: VCG)