Agricultural cooperation between China and Russia has seen rapid growth, and it is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing food security for both nations. Experts suggest that the expanding partnership could also help reduce China’s dependency on the United States for food imports, especially soybeans, a key agricultural product.
One of the driving factors behind this increased cooperation is climate change, which has opened up new agricultural opportunities in Russia’s Far East. Previously dominated by permafrost, large areas of this region are becoming arable, enabling farming to take place where it was once impossible. As this land becomes cultivable, agricultural collaboration between the two nations has gained strategic importance.
China, which has long been reliant on food imports to meet its domestic needs, particularly soybeans, sees the agricultural ties with Russia as a way to reduce dependence on traditional suppliers like the U.S. In recent years, China has diversified its import sources to mitigate risks in the global supply chain, bringing in soybeans from countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Russia. This shift is crucial for ensuring the stability of China’s food security, especially given that over 85% of its soybean demand is met through imports. Last year, soybean imports to China reached a record 105.03 million metric tons, with Brazil accounting for the majority of the supply (around 71%), while the U.S. contributed 21% and Argentina 4%. Russia has also emerged as a significant supplier, exporting non-genetically modified soybeans to China. In 2024, Russia sent 614,000 tons of soybeans to China, highlighting the growing role of the Russian agricultural sector in meeting China’s needs.
Russia’s agricultural output has surged in recent years, a stark contrast to the severe food shortages the country experienced in the 1990s. With the expansion of farming zones in the Far East, Russia now has a strong incentive to export more grain to China, its largest and most cost-effective market. As agricultural cooperation between the two nations deepens, the potential for further growth is immense. Experts suggest that this cooperation could encompass a wide range of agricultural goods, from soybeans and grains to pork, seafood, edible oils, fruits, and nuts. Furthermore, the partnership has evolved beyond simple trade relations into a more integrated and strategic collaboration that spans the entire agri-food system, from farming practices to food security planning.
In May of the previous year, China and Russia pledged to tap into the vast potential of agricultural cooperation, with a focus on expanding mutual market access, increasing trade in key products, and enhancing investment cooperation. Both nations also emphasized the importance of continued research and development, with a particular focus on establishing agricultural demonstration zones in Russia’s Far East. This forward-looking approach aims to lay the foundation for long-term success in agricultural collaboration.
An example of this deeper partnership is the seminar held in South China’s Hainan province in April, where Chinese and Russian agricultural scientists gathered to strengthen their collaboration on soybean research. The seminar brought together experts from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Soybean. The discussions centered on soybean breeding techniques, germplasm resource development, and technology transfer. Researchers also explored industrial cooperation and the establishment of a breeding system for high-oil and high-yield soybeans, which will be vital to ensuring long-term success in the sector.
Looking ahead, China and Russia plan to deepen their cooperation by jointly identifying and introducing soybean germplasm resources, advancing breeding technologies, and coordinating research on cultivation techniques. This growing partnership not only promises to bolster food security for both nations but also has the potential to shape global agricultural trends in the coming years.
