Opportunities and Challenges Facing the Food and Agricultural Sector Jikun Huang Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy Chinese Academy of Sciences
Major Changes in Food and Agricultural Economy Demand: Food, feed and fibre: Driven by conventional forces (income and population) in developing countries Biofuels: Driven by new forces Supply: Shifting land/water/labor away from agriculture during economic transformation in developing countries Technological changes (botech) Climate changes Trade patterns will experience substantial changes due to trade liberalization and biofuel development: meat and feed
World meat production (million tons), 1961-2005 300 Increased 4 times 250 200 150 100 50 0 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 Source: FAO
About two third of increase in meat output has been come from Asia since early 1990s 300 250 200 150 100 50 Rest of world Asia 0 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
Per capita meat and total living expenditure in China Urban Rural Source: CCAP and SOW-VU, 2002.
Real GDP growth and projected trend in China, 1080-2030 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 Real GDP (1980=100) 0 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 A similar growth trend has also experienced in South Asia (e.g. India) and Southeast Asia (e.g., Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand)
Shares of Asian maize production in the world (%) Asia 15% Asia 28% RoW 85% RoW 72% 1961 2006 Source: FAO
Emerging trend in world production of biofuels 20 Bioethanol production Million ton oil equivalen 16 12 8 4 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Brazil United states European Union China Inida Other 2.5 Biodiesel production Million ton oil equivalen 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Germany France Italy Rest of Europe United states Other Source: IEA analysis based on F.O.Lichts IEA World Energy Outlook 2006
Why are governments interested in biofuels? Major arguments: - Energy security: to improve national and global energy security - Environment protection: to lower air pollution and greenhouse gas emission - Agricultural and rural development: to support farming by expanding the agricultural output markets Energy security Environment protection Agriculture
While the order of importance of the arguments used by governments to promote biofuels differs among countries, there are many developed and developing countries that are decisively moving into biofuels..
Projected Total Biofuel (bioethanol and biodiesel) Production in the Next 30 Years. Source: Msangi, et al., 2007
However. We believe that while arguments may be valid, much of the shift into biofuels is being done without carefully understanding of its social, economic and environmental implications, especially in the case of developing countries.
Driving forces for biofuel development Energy security Policy and welfare implications Energy security Environment protection Our opinion Environment protection Agriculture Agriculture
Despite substantial growth of biofuel in the future, it would not significantly improve global/national energy security 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 % Share of biofuel in road transport fuel demand 2004 2030 Source: Claude Mandil, 2007. A Global Oil Outlook: Demand and Supply
Real crude oil prices (US$/barrel in real 2005 price) 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1905 1915 1925 1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005
Real cereal price index (All prices = 100 in 1960) 300 250 Wheat Maize Rice 200 150 100 50 0 1905 1915 1925 1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005
Real cereal price index (All prices = 100 in 1960) 300 250 Wheat Maize Rice 200 150 100 50 0 1905 1915 1925 1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 Business as usual
300 250 200 150 100 Real cereal price index (All prices = 100 in 1960) Wheat Maize Rice Our argument: if emergence of biofuels caused a large, sustained rise in food prices [unprecedented in last 100+ years], it could have HUGE effect on many parts of the population Biofuel era? 50 0 1905 1915 1925 1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 Business as usual
Thinking about the emergence of biofuels triggers many questions: Will the prices of feedstocks (e.g., maize, sugarcane, etc) continue to increase forever? How will it affect other parts of the economy? (e.g. those that produce horticulture; livestock ) How will it affect poor farmers? Poor urban residents? How will it affect people in poor countries that import grains? How will it affect land and water uses as well as environment? How will it will affect global and regional trade? How will it affect R&D spending and investment in agriculture?
Impacts on average farm income of producing 10 million kiloliters of bio-ethanol based on maize in China in 2020 Through price and cross-price effects, farmer income will rise in ALL regions (with more gains in maize production zone). As the maize farmers are relatively poor, there is gain in income distribution
Impacts on regional maize production of producing 10 million kiloliters of bio-ethanol in China in 2020 While it will provide a great opportunity for farmers, it will also has significant implications for land and water uses in Northeast, North China Plain and Southwest China
Technological changes: (e.g., Biotechnologies)
Impacts of Bt cotton in China (By empirical study, per hectare) Increase yield: 9.6% 930 yuan Reduce pesticide use: 60% 923 yuan Reduce labor input: 7% 574 yuan Increase seed cost: 570 yuan Increase net income: 1857 yuan (US$ 225) Sources: Huang et al., Science, 29 Jan 2002: 674-677 Note: per capita income of sample farmers was 2160 yuan in 2001
Impacts of GM rice in China (Based on pre-production trail of GM rice in farm fields) Pesticide: - 80% Yield : + 4~8% Labor : - 5.5% Net income: US$ 82~100 /ha Huang et al., 2005, Science
Overall Impacts in China (million US$) in 2010 6000 5000 5249 Million US$ 4000 3000 2000 1000 1097 0 Bt cotton Bt cotton + GM rice Huang et al., 2004, JDE
Climate changes Emerging challenge to food and agricultural production in the coming decades
Marginal temperature effect Average farm Rainfed farm Irrigated farm Source: Wang et al., 2007
Trade patterns will experience substantial changes due to trade liberalization and biofuel development There will be large uncertainty on global trade of: maize and other biofuel feedstocks meat, and many other food and agricultural products
Concluding remarks: Opportunities and Challenges Facing Agricultural Sector Opportunities: - Rising food and agricultural prices due to increasing demand for food, feed and biofuels - Technological changes (biotech, IT, etc) - Increase investment in R&D and others - Challenges: - Trade off among food, feed, and fuel - Intensification, sustainability, and uncertainty of agricultural production - Substantial changes in global agricultural trade (meat, feed and feedstocks)