How is China shaping global food supply chains? Insights from the seed industry

Abstract

China’s global expansion of state-owned enterprises, like ChemChina and Longping High-Tech (LPHT), along with agricultural policy reforms, is revolutionizing global food supply chains. This study investigates the evolution of China’s domestic seed industry, and its growing presence in the global seed market, assesses how Chinese acquisitions and the rise of local companies, such as Syngenta and LPHT, are changing the global market structure, and explores the challenges and opportunities for China and the global seed industry. The findings suggest China’s current global influence is limited, mainly affecting South America’s corn seed sector, though ongoing international collaborations suggest long-term potential for greater global influence.