Regional Difference of Grain Production and Its Consumed Fraction in China

For understanding the regional differences in supply and consumption of food grain in China, we investigated the subregional production and consumption of unprocessed grain and feed grain. The 31 provinces were divided into 7 contiguous regions of grain production based on the spatial vicinity and climate similarity. In each contiguous region, the total grain production is self-sufficient for staple grain and industrial grain demands, and the national staple grain and industrial grain supplies are secured. In the future, the production and supply of feed grain and meat will be a new challenge for food security in China. The production and consumption balance of unprocessed and animal feed grain in the western, southwestern and central three contiguous regions is generally maintained, and there is a need to maintain a steady grain yield and promote grazing livestock industry. The northeastern region is China's main feed grain supplier, while the southeastern region is the primary consumer. Up to 50 million tons grain were transported from the northeast to southeast annualy which not only increases the transport pressure but also exaggerate the degradation of northeast crop lands. Three southeastern contiguous regions can increase grain production, while limiting swine production and developing herbivorous livestock industry. In the future, the increase in China's grain productionis limited while imports from world market remains uncertain, thus, increasing herbivorous livestock productions are fundamental guarantee for the national food security, particularly for meat production and supply in China.