High-quality development of food security cooperation within the SCO

Editor’s note:  Li Chunding is a leading professor at China Agricultural University, and Wang Ruihan is a research assistant and student at the Institute of International Economics of China Agricultural University. The article reflects the authors’ opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. It has been translated from Chinese and edited for brevity and clarity.

Food security is fundamental to human survival, the healthy functioning of the global economy, social stability, and national security. In recent years, based on complementary natural resources and agricultural economies, food security has become a crucial topic of cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states.

In May of this year, the 8th Meeting of Agriculture Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States was held, where participants highly commended the importance of deepening cooperation on agriculture and food security within the SCO framework. The SCO has hence made remarkable achievements in advancing food security cooperation.

Firstly, the mechanism for the SCO agriculture ministers’ meeting and investment programs for agricultural cooperation among member states can facilitate bilateral communication of agricultural policies, optimize food security management mechanisms, and comprehensively improve the quality and efficiency of the food industry. 

Secondly, the SCO’s agricultural technology exchange and training demonstration bases are instrumental in helping Central Asian countries develop modern food systems. 

Thirdly, policy coordination among SCO member states is conducive to implementing food security strategies, simplifying market access for both sides, bolstering China’s competitiveness in agricultural products, and providing institutional guarantees for food security in Central Asian countries.

SCO member states are located in the world’s major food production regions. In 2020, SCO countries contributed 38 percent of the world’s total of 11.19 billion tonnes of agricultural and livestock products, including 53.5 percent of rice, 51.2 percent of wheat, 31.6 percent of meat, and 29.2 percent of sugar. These countries enjoy strong complementarity in agricultural products and resource endowments, which grants them evident advantages in agricultural trade and investment cooperation.

Firstly, seasonal complementarity. For example, countries like Kazakhstan and Russia experience long and cold winters, so they have a high demand for off-season vegetables and fruits. Secondly, complementary technological advantages. Examples include Uzbekistan’s cottonseed technology, China’s facility agriculture and water-saving irrigation technologies, and Russia’s genetics technology. Thirdly, market complementarity. For instance, Russia yields soybeans on its abundant black soil, a much-needed plant protein for countries in South Asia. Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan primarily export land-intensive agricultural products and have a vast market demand for China’s labor-intensive agricultural products. In recent years, SCO countries have consistently adhered to pragmatic dialogue, taken synchronized actions in the domains of food security and agriculture, expanded investments, and encouraged orderly trade in agricultural products.

To ensure a steady food supply, SCO member states have maintained prospective and long-term practical cooperation in the agriculture field. Since 2010, the SCO has been convening regular meetings of agriculture ministers to discuss issues on member states’ agricultural cooperation. In 2018, the meeting adopted the SCO Cooperation Programme on Food Security. In 2021, the Statements by the Council of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Food Security was issued, the conception of establishing the SCO demonstration bases for agricultural technology exchange and training was passed, and multiple statements on maintaining energy security, supply chain security, and other matters were released.

In 2022, the SCO Summit particularly stressed deepening pragmatic cooperation and enhancing food security guarantees. Related agreements are becoming increasingly detailed and applicable, strongly stimulating collaboration between China and other SCO member states in areas such as agricultural product trade, agricultural investment, and agricultural technology.

Currently, the SCO member states face the heavy responsibility of restructuring, advancing technology, stabilizing prices, ensuring security, and increasing investments in the food security field. In the future, further resource integration and deepening of cooperation in agricultural technology and industry among member states will be of paramount significance, in comprehensively elevating the agricultural development level of SCO member states. 

The following paths can be explored to achieve this goal: Firstly, we should further strengthen top-level design and establish high-standard alliances for agricultural-enterprises. Secondly, it is essential to cultivate SCO agricultural cooperation brands and host regular supporting activities. Thirdly, distribution centers should be set up to disseminate information about exhibitions, sales, and supply and demand of SCO’s agriculture-related hi-tech products, thus enhancing information exchange. Finally, efforts should be made to establish comprehensive industrial clusters themed around the SCO agricultural economy and trade and focus on pragmatic cooperation. In addition, it is imperative to fully utilize social organizations’ advantages in resource integration and their non-profit institutional attribute, exploring a sustainable model that guides social forces to jointly develop food security programs and share the results and benefits from relevant cooperation.

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