China's anti-waste campaign could save one-tenth of grain output

"In a world of seven billion people, set to grow to nine billion by 2050, wasting food makes no sense, economically, environmentally and ethically," said Achim Steiner, UN under-secretary-general and UNEP executive director.

Ma Xiaohe, deputy chief of the Academy of Macro-economic Research with the National Development and Reform Commission, said as the world's largest developing country, China's food saving feeds into global frugality.

Research by China Agricultural University in 2008 put China's annual food waste at 50 million tons, one-tenth of the country's total grain output.

UNEP spokesman Nick Nuttal also said China's contribution is critical to help the world cut down on food waste or loss.

Food supply has long been a thorny problem in the world's most populous country. Even now, China is still facing challenges in food supply, with national requirements that see only seven percent of the total arable land on Earth feeding 22 percent of its population.

Having just witnessed a ninth consecutive year of rising grain output, China's total grain output in 2012 reached nearly 590 million tonnes.

However, experts have warned that greater threats loom large, as China imports more and more grain from abroad due to people's improved living standards.

Han Jun, vice director of the Development Research Center of the State Council, said on Tuesday that China's self-sufficiency rate on grain has plunged below 90 percent, a warning sign that the nation may have a food security issue.

The Chinese government sets a 95-percent bottom line on its grain self-sufficiency rate, according to a white paper on China's food security.

"If good results are achieved in China's frugality campaign, the import of grain and edible oil can be saved for 100 million people each year," said Zheng Fengtian, a professor with Renmin University of China.

"It is also good news for easing the world food crisis," the academic added.