Chinese agricultural scientists are developing new strains of protein-rich corn that can serve as a substitute for soybeans in animal feed, a potential game-changer for China’s drive to reduce its reliance on overseas grain.
Beijing sees the growing dependence on foreign agricultural products as a threat to the nation’s food security, as well as a potential issue of contention amid an intensifying trade war with the United States.
Developing higher-protein corn to replace soybeans in animal feed is seen as a potential solution, and researchers at China’s Huazhong Agricultural University have already developed several promising varieties, according to the university’s president.
China has been placing increasing emphasis on food security amid a rise in geopolitical tensions and uncertainties in the international market.
