La Chine au risque de la dépendance alimentaire

China close to the point of food dependency

¹ Département économie de l’Institut de l’élevage, 149 Rue de Bercy, 75595 Paris Cedex 12
² Direction économie des agricultures et des territoires de l’APCA, 9, Avenue George V, 75008 Paris et Laboratoire REGARDS, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, 57 rue Pierre Taittinger, 51096 Reims Cedex

^* jean-marc.chaumet@idele.fr

Reçu : 18 Juillet 2012
Accepté : 30 Juillet 2012

Abstract

China’s opening to the world and economic reforms began in 1978 and resulted in remarkable economic growth. Food transition then occurred for part of Chinese citizens, meaning more meat consumption and less grain consumption. Many factors explained this transition. As China’s economy grew rapidly, peoples’ average income have been rising and cities have been growing at a rapid pace. Foreign investments in retail also have played a major role. But some gaps remain throughout the country: income inequality between rural and urban, between people living on the coast and in-land people, among generations. . . Food transition is not over yet for an important part of the Chinese population.

China was able to feed its population until the beginning of the 21st century. But the imports of soybean and milk products have widened its food trade deficit since 2004. The crisis that has been affecting the global economy for the past 4 years might force the Chinese authorities to boost home consumption to be able to maintain the economic growth. This move would mean more imports and might have big consequences on food international trade in the years to come.