context: The 2025 No.1 Document marks the first time in five years that a grain production target has not been explicitly stated, signalling a shift in focus to 'ensuring stable and high yields' rather than setting new quotas. Instead, the policy prioritises yield improvements, quality enhancement and technological innovation to sustain long-term production growth. The emphasis is now on boosting per-hectare output and optimising grain composition rather than expanding total cultivated land.
Grain output reaching 700 million tonnes in 2024 was a historic milestone. While this exceeds the 14th 5-year plan target, the new focus is on maintaining this level while increasing efficiency, contends Liu Luxiang 刘录祥 National Wheat Industry Technology System chief scientist.
Rather than setting a new quota for 2025, the policy aligns with the 50 million tonne capacity expansion plan (2024–30), which aims to raise yields through technological advancements, optimise crop structure and improve grain quality.
Achieving this requires stabilising the PRC’s 116.7 million ha grain sowing area while prioritising higher yields in key crops such as corn and soybeans.
Liu notes that the PRC’s yield per hectare has steadily increased through technological progress, but gaps remain compared to global leaders.
The government is therefore focusing on precision agriculture, high-yield seed varieties and mechanisation to close this gap. The plan also includes targeted yield-boosting measures across six key regions and a push for more efficient water and soil resource management to sustain production growth.
Beyond yield improvements, the document places greater emphasis on grain quality to align with changing dietary preferences. Liu explains that the PRC’s food consumption patterns are shifting from 'sufficient food' to 'better and healthier food', increasing demand for nutrient-rich, higher-quality grains. This includes enhancing protein and dietary fibre content, improving taste and processing characteristics and developing functional grains tailored for specific health needs.
The policy also highlights advancing processing efficiency and supply chain optimisation to reduce waste and improve the economic value of domestic grain production.
Liu stresses that grain quality improvement is now a core part of the food security strategy, ensuring that higher yields are matched with better nutritional and processing standards to enhance agricultural competitiveness.