From the expo floor: China's contributions to green farming solutions

Editor's note: Zheng Junfeng is a CGTN anchor. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

High-speed trains and futuristic cityscapes often dominate global perceptions of China. Yet as millions of visitors arriving in cities across the country under visa-free schemes, they discover something fascinating and more fundamental: An astonishing abundance of delicious, diverse and affordable food. It is a stark contrast to the cost-of-living crisis squeezing grocery budgets in many Western countries.

Hosting the Green Agriculture Forum at Beijing's third China International Supply Chain Expo gave me, a CGTN anchor, a privileged view. The expo underscores a critical truth: Feeding its 1.4 billion people remains China's paramount challenge, no matter how the world changes.

Walking inside the expo halls, China's agricultural scale is palpable. Solutions focus on bringing advanced technologies to 460 million farmers, many of whom work on small plots of land. I saw high-yield seeds, digital soil monitors and precision fertilization tools that boost output while conserving resources. This leap is crucial as climate change is intensifying droughts and floods across the world, oftentime affecting regions which are still considered developing. Global players like Cargill showcased climate-resilient seeds and smart irrigation technologies, alongside Chinese innovators. As a Cargill executive noted during a particular forum, local governments and rural banks also help: They mitigate risks through insurance and forward contracts, enabling farmers invest confidently in sustainable practices.

But it is not just about yield. Companies like Louis Dreyfus detailed their push for circular agriculture aimed at cutting pollution. Blockchain and digital-twin technologies for soybeans and coffee beans have enabled precise carbon tracking and more efficient water use.

Big brands drive change upstream. Yum China – which operates over 16,000 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell outlets – has actively pushed suppliers toward green practices. McDonald's China, under CITIC Group, presented its "regenerative agriculture" program focusing on sustainable fisheries, water conservation, soil health (cover crops, organic fertilizers) and animal welfare. The program is reaching 5,000 farmers with pilot farms and traceability platforms.

The green shift also involves infrastructure. Trane Technologies highlighted innovations for China's cold chain plan: Targeting over 30 percent hydrogen or solar refrigerated transport by 2025. And for China's mountainous terrains, researchers like those from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Mechanization Sciences showcased smart, lightweight and low-energy machinery. I learned that these solutions are even being adapted for Southeast Asia via the Belt and Road Initiative.

Moderating the forum has cemented my view: China's pivot goes beyond its own needs. In a world wrestling with climate-driven food insecurity, it has charted a viable path. It has proved that feeding vast populations affordably can coexist with environmental care and better farmer incomes. Accessible tech for smallholders, public-private partnerships that de-risk green investment, corporate supply chain leadership and supportive policy – together: They offer a powerful blueprint.

The global food system now stands at a crossroads. Witnessing China's approach firsthand at the Supply Chain Expo – that blend of innovation, market savviness and ecological awareness – is illuminating. It provides not just food for billions, but crucial food for thought in a world seeking sustainability. Green agriculture, as the expo powerfully confirmed as one of its six themes, is now core to China's future, alongside advanced manufacturing, smart vehicles, new energy, medical sciences, and artificial intelligence. The implications of which touches us all.