context: The farm and food hall at the eighth CIIE (China International Import Expo) shows how PRC demand is now shaping global food supply. As consumers seek higher-quality, traceable and diverse food, foreign producers are no longer simply exhibiting goods: they are localising production, recipes and branding to fit the market. The expo has become a key junction where global producers transition from display to partnership, transforming imported samples into products tailored for Chinese kitchens.
The farm and food section of this year’s CIIE (China International Import Expo) gathered more than 2,000 firms from across the world, themed 'from global farms to China’s tables', writes Securities Daily.
Visitors sampled beef from Argentina, bananas from Costa Rica, kiwiberries from New Zealand, passion fruit from Colombia and fresh-brewed Brazilian coffee. It was the expo’s largest and most diverse food exhibition to date.
Two main trends stood out. First, the shift from 'global debuts' to 'local innovation'.
Exhibitors are no longer content to showcase products but are investing in R&D centres, tailoring formulas and embedding themselves in local supply chains. Dairy brands introduced new products with probiotics, higher calcium and lower fat to match health-conscious preferences.
Domestic producer Miaokolando launched China’s first locally made mozzarella, while Arla, Danone and Nestlé each unveiled new products tailored to local tastes and nutritional trends.
Second, digitalisation and precision nutrition are reshaping how food moves from farms to consumers.
Supply chains are becoming increasingly data-driven: sensors and AI now monitor livestock, manage cold-chain logistics and track origin in real-time. At Syngenta’s booth, a robot dog patrolled crops using AI to assess yields and pest risks.
Yili’s smart-farm system tracks each cow through digital records and provides instant technical guidance, raising efficiency and sustainability.
The trend toward localisation was also visible in new partnerships.
Retailer Dingdong Maicai signed a C¥100 million beef order with New Zealand’s Silver Fern Farms, linking imported grass-fed meat directly to Chinese consumers.
Bright Food Group’s 'Smart Chain' platform brought together over 60 overseas partners from 30 countries to supply nearly 400 product categories, utilising online-offline integration to turn exhibition samples into real-time retail.
More than a showcase, the CIIE has become a marketplace where global producers learn from China’s evolving consumption trends.
As household demand shifts from availability to quality, foreign firms are designing, packaging and sourcing with China’s table in mind, bringing global farms a step closer to everyday meals.