SAFE - Sustainable food production in China

IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute will support sustainable agriculture food production in China, in collaboration with China Chain Store and Franchise Association and Institute of Agriculture Economics and Development. The aim is to reduce food loss and packaging, and limit the use of pesticide and fertilizers.

Due to inefficient and un-regulated cultivating and distribution system, the agricultural supply in China is still not very well organized. This creates risks for food safety, food loss and waste, and increases various environmental pollution such as overuse of pesticides and fertilizers, which poses pressure on biodiversity.

To reduce the use of chemical, the project SAFE will use experiences from Europe and integrate the knowledge in training system for retailers and farmers.

SAFE stands for Supporting Scheme for MSMEs by Building Sustainable Agricultural Fresh Food Production and Logistics in China. The project is part of the Switch-Asia Programme, which helps Asian countries to tackle global challenges. Supported by the European Union and its international partners, SWITCH-Asia promotes Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP).

Via “train the trainers” the project will raise awareness and the capacities of farmers and cooperatives in more eco-efficient agricultural production, improved processing, and packaging. This includes introducing returnable plastic crates for fruits and vegetable, along with informing about relevant guidelines, standards, and policy proposals.

Read more about the project