The workshop based upon consensus between AMIS and the Chinese government, is to promote the alignment of the Chinese agricultural market information with that of the world. The main topics including the current Chinese and international methods to estimate grain stock, farmers' grain reserve behavior, method of statistical calculation and investigation of food consumption, estimation of outdoor food consumption, feed consumption estimate etc.

Zhang Hecheng, Director General of the Department of Market and Economic Informaiton of MOA noted that China had registered unprecedented growth of grain output for eleven years in a row since 2004, which was a tremendous contribution to the world food security. As a big producer and consumer of agricultural products, China needs to accelerate its integration into the global trade and realize the alignment between China's agricultural market information with the international market. This is not only crucial to China's food security and market stability, but also valuable to the world food safety and trade. China has published the China Agricultural Outlook consecutively in 2014 and 2015 and the transparency of China's agricultural market information has been greatly improved. Since 2011, China has maintained sound cooperative relationship with G20-AMIS. China will further strengthen exchanges and cooperation on agricultural information with relevant national and international organizations, actively participate in the establishment of the global agricultural information monitoring system and make contribution to the stable operation of the global agricultural market.

CAAS Vice President Wu Kongming pointed out that in recent years, the AII has made great headway in the study of the theory of agricultural information analysis, the method of information collection, the technology of information analysis and the system of information publication, as well as the installation of equipment, software and systems. Under the leadership and with the great support of the MOA, the AII has organized the World Agricultural Outlook Conference 2013 and hosted the China Agricultural Outlook Conference 2014 and 2015, which played an important role in promoting the alignment of the study of agricultural monitoring and early warning in China with the world.

After two days' in-depth exchanges and discussion, the workshop reached consensus at the technical level on the methodology of grain stock estimation, choice of investigation into the types of stocks, frequency and timing of stock investigation, consumption estimation and relevant action plans.

The AMIS is known to be established in response to the initiative of the first meeting of G20 Agricultural Ministers and is currently the most important platform of international influence among G20 affiliated platforms. It aims to improve the transparency of global agricultural market information and promote policy coordination and dialogue among member states to cope with market uncertainties. AMIS members include the G20 members, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine and other major food producing, consuming and trading countries. One country will be selected by members as the host country every year. The AMIS is composed of three arms, namely the Secretariat, Global Food Market Information Team and the Rapid Response Forum. Entrusted by the MOA, the AII of the CAAS is technically in charge of China's participation in the AMIS.

 

By Wang Yu
Wangyu01@caas.cn