Hong Kong Bauhinia Magazine:

To ensure national food security, we need to make simultaneous efforts to increase production and reduce losses. What outcomes have been achieved in grain conservation in every aspect and process of grain circulation? What measures will be taken in the next step to achieve tangible advancements in grain conservation? Thank you.

Huang Wei:

Thank you for your questions. You just mentioned in your question that, to ensure national food security, we need to make simultaneous efforts to increase production and reduce losses. The remark was made by General Secretary Xi Jinping. It represents the most fundamental requirement for effective grain conservation work.

General Secretary Xi Jinping has consistently emphasized the importance of grain conservation, and set forth work requirements. Recently, the Central Party Literature Press published a compilation of excerpts from discourses by Xi Jinping concerning China's food security. The book, compiled by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, is divided into eight parts, including one section dedicated to Xi's expositions on food conservation titled "Making Food Conservation a Common Practice in the Whole Society." I would like to recommend this book to friends from the media. 

In line with its work responsibilities, the NFSRA has implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's requirements on reducing food waste and loss. Here, I will briefly summarize the progress we have achieved in our work.

First, efforts have been made to reduce losses in the procurement process, focusing on serving the people. More than 5,500 specialized post-production grain service centers have been established to provide cleaning, drying and storage services for farmers during gain harvesting. Additionally, nearly 10 million sets of scientifically designed grain storage equipment have been promoted for use. By using the equipment as required, grain storage losses for farmers have been reduced from an average of 8% to less than 2%. Second, we have grasped the application of technology to reduce losses during storage and transportation. We have implemented measures that promote applying the "four-in-one" grain storage technology, controlled atmosphere storage, temperature-controlled storage, and other innovative technologies to enhance storage conditions and maintain grain quality, thereby reducing the incidence of spoiled grain and minimizing losses. After the application of new technologies, the total loss rate of grain in the storage cycle of the State-owned grain depots was reduced to less than 1%. In addition, we have made advancements in transportation by developing and utilizing rail-water intermodal transport receiving and unloading systems, special transport vehicles, bulk grain logistics equipment and other technical equipment. These measures have reduced grain transport losses. Third, we have promoted moderate processing to reduce the loss of finished grain production. The transformation from raw grain to finished grain involves a processing phase. In recent years, issues with excessive processing in the market have resulted in a loss of nutrition for the human body. To address this problem, we have stepped up research and development efforts in moderate processing technologies and promoted their widespread adoption. We have also upgraded processing equipment to minimize unnecessary losses and consumption of grain and oil. In such a way, we have improved the yield of finished grain and the comprehensive utilization rate of by-products. Furthermore, we have focused on standardizing grain processing. Efforts have been made to formulate standards on adequate processing to ensure food security and food safety, and in particular, people's health. We have been guiding the whole society to save food and reduce food losses through standardized practices. Fourth, we have strengthened publicity and education to reduce losses in consumption. In combination with some thematic and comprehensive activities, such as World Food Day and National Food Security Publicity Week, we consistently carry out publicity and education to promote grain conservation, nutrition and health. We strive to create a social atmosphere that encourages conservation and opposes wasteful practices, thereby enhancing people's awareness and behavioral habits regarding food conservation. In this regard, our media friends have done a lot of work. On behalf of the NFSRA, I would like to thank you.

To effectively promote grain conservation, we need the joint efforts of practitioners, consumers and all sectors of society throughout the whole process from the field to the table. Going forward, as the competent authority, we will continue to work hard in this regard. At the same time, I hope our friends from the media can help us publicize and guide these initiatives. Together, we can reduce food loss and improve food production for the benefit of all. Thank you.