China: An Agri-Food Prospectus

Abstract

China accounts for 21 percent of the world's population and is one of the world's fastest growing economies. The value of production within China's agri-food sector now ranks first in the world. In this paper, we embrace a multidisciplinary approach to assess prospects for China's production, consumption and trade in agri-food products for the next decade. Key drivers and determinants include urbanization, China's current demographic dividend and prospective demographic deficit, the nature and sequence of infrastructure development and water governance. The expiry of China's “demographic dividend” and water scarcity challenges are arguably the biggest challenges going forward.

Keywords:

• China
• agri-food sector
• water governance
• demographic dividend
• infrastructure

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Brad Gilmour

Brad Gilmour is an analyst with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. In previous capacities, he has—among other things—worked with colleagues within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Asian Development Bank on trade facilitation, collaborated with East Asian colleagues on capacity-building related to World Trade Organization disciplines and undertaken outreach activities with emerging economies in the context of OECD's Global Forum. Brad has also overseen work related to water and resource governance and multilateral environmental agreements. Corresponding author: [email protected]

Bruce Phillips

Bruce Phillips is an analyst with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Bruce holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in East Asian Studies from the University of Toronto, a Master of International Studies from Yonsei University and a Master of Arts (Economics) from York University. In addition, he spent one year at Fudan University in Shanghai studying Mandarin. Bruce's current focus is on issues surrounding international trade in agri-food products and the structure and performance of Canada's food processing industry. [email protected]