China’s Richer Diet Is Straining the Agricultural Industry

For years China had more than enough wheat and rice to feed its 1.4 billion people. But since the nation grew richer and diets shifted to more meat and dairy, the world’s second-most populous country is running out of enough arable land to keep up with the demand for high-protein food.

The Ministry of Agriculture in April projected a downward trend in per capita grain consumption over the next decade and rapid growth in consumption of meat, dairy, fruit and seafood. That’s in line with trends in neighboring, higher-income Asian countries and regions with dietary patterns similar to those of China.