The world is facing another global food and energy crisis, caused by the US war on Iran, its disruption of supply chains in the Persian Gulf, as well as more generally by the Trump regime trade wars with China and almost every other country. These US moves have been fundamentally aimed at weakening China’s economy and its high quality green development.
In 2009 China played a key part in the formation of the BRICS bloc, by promoting cooperation among emerging economies and advocating for a multi-polar world order. Chinese influence has continued to significantly shape the bloc’s agenda and initiatives since its inception. An important element in this has been China’s crucial role in establishing the BRICS New Development Bank, which provides funding for infrastructure and sustainable development projects among member countries.
Within China, the state plays a key role in safeguarding food security and maintaining food reserves. State-owned enterprises (SOEs) ensure government control over strategic industries, and operate them as businesses that serve socially beneficial purposes.
The largest and most relevant SOEs in China overseeing food security are China Sinograin (Grain Reserves Group) and COFCO (China Oil and Foodstuffs Corporation). Sinograin handled reserves of grains, oils, meats, sugars, and other agricultural commodities, while COFCO oversaw processing, warehousing, planting, transportation, and shipping of foodstuffs.
In 2022, these entities formed a joint venture called the China Enterprise United Grain Reserve Company. Combining efforts, this system ensures the process of reserving foodstuffs and then processing and wholesaling them is managed efficiently.
China’s strategic food reserves
Alongside the SOEs, both cooperative farms and private for-profit business enterprises operate in the agri-food sector. However, the state sector serves as a check on these entities.
Grain reserves are a key element in how China is able to anticipate and prepare for any potential food supply crisis. There has not been another strategic food reserve at any point in human history that comes close to the magnitude of China’s reserve.
In terms of grain alone, in 2024 the strategic reserve was at 700 million metric tons of grain – enough to feed the entire domestic population for a year. With reserves at this scale, China can guarantee that should a crisis unfold, its population will not go hungry.
BRICS+: A global FORCE for food security
The BRICS bloc is becoming a global centre for food security, positioned to play a crucial role in transforming global agri-food system. The expanded BRICS+ grouping, now 11 members and 10 partners, brings together the world’s largest food producers – the BRICS countries are responsible for 42% of total global food production
BRICS+ nations now encompasses 42% of the world’s arable land and 50% of global cereal output making them collectively significant players in the agricultural sector. They also have 40% of the planet’s renewable water resources, highlighting again their crucial role in global food supply and food security.
This is particularly important as the world faces rising food prices and supply chain disruptions aggravated by US wars on energy and trade with China and other BRICS nations.
Sources:
Geopolitical Economy, May 7, 2026. https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2026/05/07/china-food-reserves-crisis-war-iran/
The China Academy, October 18, 2024. https://thechinaacademy.org/before-competing-with-the-us-china-built-the-worlds-largest-granary/
Think BRICS, January 10, 2026. https://thinkbrics.substack.com/p/the-new-battle-for-grain-the-brics
