Foreword

Innovation, Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability in China is a part of the OECD Food and Agricultural Reviews series. The review was implemented in collaboration with the Development Research Center of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.

The review examines the conditions in which farms and businesses in China undertake innovation in the food and agriculture sector to become more productive and environmentally sustainable. It starts with an overview of the food and agriculture sector and outlines development challenges and opportunities (Chapter 2). A wide range of policies which influence incentives for innovation are then examined: a favourable and predictable environment for investment (Chapter 3); capacities and public services enabling business development (Chapter 4); agricultural policy (Chapter 5); and, the operation of the agricultural innovation system (Chapter 6).

Policies in China are analysed following a framework developed by the OECD as part of its work on agricultural innovation and in response to a request from the G20 in 2012 under the Presidency of Mexico to evaluate the extent to which a wide range of policies facilitates productivity growth and sustainability in food and agriculture. The framework has been applied to Australia, Brazil, Canada, Estonia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey and the United States; additional reviews are underway or planned.