Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — High-speed trains and futuristic cityscapes often dominate global perceptions of China. Yet as millions of visitors arriving in Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing under visa-free schemes, they discover something fascinating and more fundamental: an astonishing abundance of delicious, diverse and affordable food. It is a stark contrast to the cost-of-living crisis squeezing grocery budgets in many Western countries.

Hosting the Green Agriculture Forum at Beijing’s third China International Supply Chain Expo gave me, a CGTN anchor, a privileged view. The expo underscored a critical truth: feeding 1.4 billion people remains China’s paramount challenge, no matter how the world changes.

Walking the expo halls, China’s agricultural scale was palpable. Solutions focus on bringing advanced technologies to 460 million farmers, many of whom work small plots of land. I saw high-yield seeds, digital soil monitors and precision fertilization tools that boost output while conserving resources. This leap is crucial as climate change is intensifying droughts and floods. Global players like Cargill showcased climate-resilient seeds and smart irrigation technologies, alongside Chinese innovators. As a Cargill executive noted in our forum, local governments and rural banks also help: They mitigate risks through insurance and forward contracts, enabling farmers invest confidently in sustainable practices.

But it is not just about yield. Companies like Louis Dreyfus detailed their push for circular agriculture aimed at cutting pollution. Blockchain and digital-twin technologies for soybeans and coffee beans enable precise carbon tracking and more efficient water use.

Big brands drive change upstream. Yum China – which operates over 16,000 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell outlets – actively pushes suppliers toward green practices. McDonald’s China, under CITIC Group, presented its "regenerative agriculture" program focused on sustainable fisheries, water conservation, soil health (think cover crops, organic fertilizer) and animal welfare. They are reaching 5,000 farmers with pilot farms and traceability platforms.

The green shift reaches infrastructure, too. Trane Technologies highlighted innovations for China’s cold chain plan: targeting over 30 percent hydrogen or solar refrigerated transport by 2025. And for China’s mountainous terrain, researchers like the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Mechanization Sciences showcased smart, lightweight and low-energy machinery. I learned that these solutions are even being adapted for Southeast Asia via the Belt and Road Initiative.

Moderating the forum cemented my view: China’s pivot goes beyond its own needs. In a world wrestling with climate-driven food insecurity, it charts a viable path. It proves that feeding vast populations affordably can coexist with environmental care and better farmer incomes. Accessible tech for smallholders, public-private partnerships that de-risk green investment, corporate supply chain leadership and supportive policy – together: they offer a powerful blueprint.

The global food system stands at a crossroads. Witnessing China’s approach firsthand at the Supply Chain Expo – that blend of innovation, market savviness and ecological awareness – was illuminating. It provides not just food for billions, but crucial food for thought for a world seeking sustainability. Green agriculture, as the expo powerfully confirmed as one of its six themes, is now core to China’s future, alongside advanced manufacturing, smart vehicles, new energy, medical sciences, and artificial intelligence. Its implications touch us all.

 By Zheng Junfeng, CGTN

Zheng Junfeng is a CGTN anchor. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN or UzDaily.