Agricultural Products Processing Bureau Actively Promotes the Development of Potato Staple Food Products

This website reports  The Agricultural Products Processing Bureau earnestly implements the requirements of ministry leaders, takes promoting the development of potato staple food products as an important work task, bases itself on its duties, strengthens research, actively plans, and adopts multiple measures to advance work related to the development of potato staple food products.

First, actively seek fiscal funding support. Since the implementation of the subsidy policy for primary processing at agricultural product origins, it has been widely welcomed and praised at the grassroots level, but the scale of funds, implementation areas, and types of facilities are all far from meeting actual demand, creating a situation of “one cellar and one warehouse hard to obtain.” At the same time, advancing the development of the staple food processing industry is of great significance and very urgent, but corresponding means are lacking. To this end, the Processing Bureau actively communicated and coordinated with the Ministry's Department of Finance and the Ministry of Finance's Department of Agriculture to seek support. Through efforts on multiple sides, the subsidy funds for primary processing at agricultural product origins increased from 600 million yuan last year to 1 billion yuan this year, an increase of 67%, mainly used for potato and fruit and vegetable storage and preservation, of which 100 million yuan is specifically used to support the development of potato staple food products.

Second, promote the establishment of a potato staple food processing industry alliance. This year, according to the arrangements and deployment of the Processing Bureau, with the Institute of Processing of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences specifically responsible, work was launched to prepare for the establishment of a potato staple food processing industry alliance jointly composed of government departments (main production areas), industrial and commercial capital (production enterprises, processing enterprises, equipment enterprises), and scientific research institutes, exploring a market-led mechanism for division of labor, cooperation, exchange, and innovation, as well as a reasonable mechanism for resource allocation and benefit distribution before, during, and after production, and strengthening industry self-discipline and self-service. On this basis, when conditions are ripe, by referring to the establishment, operation, and development model of the industry alliance, promote the formation of a large alliance for the entire staple food processing industry.

Third, support the research, development, and promotion of potato staple food processing technology. Under conditions of limited resources and means, actively communicate and coordinate with the Ministry's Department of Planning, give priority to promoting the implementation of the construction of an integrated research and development platform for potato staple food processing technology, and launch the project approval and implementation work. Organize research and development teams such as the Institute of Processing of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to carry out research and development breakthroughs in potato staple food products, developing more than 10 series and more than 50 products including steamed buns, noodles, and blended rice, completing pilot tests at 5 staple food processing enterprises, and achieving standardized production and market sales at 2 staple food processing enterprises. At the same time, in the second half of the year, it is planned to organize a national potato staple food processing science-enterprise matching event in Dingxi, Gansu, to further consolidate forces in the field of potato staple food development and accelerate the resolution of technical and equipment difficulties in industrial development.

Fourth, carry out work on the formulation and revision of relevant standards. In response to the lagging relevant standards for potato staple food products in our country, this year the Processing Bureau arranged for the Institute of Processing of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to take the lead in organizing the drafting of basic standards such as the classification and terminology of potato staple food products, quality and safety control specifications, and testing methods for potato proportion, so as to further form consensus and promote standardized production.

Fifth, strengthen publicity and guidance. Through rich and diverse thematic activities, compiled knowledge manuals, and other means, publicize modern staple food consumption concepts and enhance consumers' awareness of potato staple food products. In the nationwide recognition of demonstration enterprises in the staple food processing industry and the publicity and promotion activities for staple food processing “time-honored brands,” give special attention to potato staple food processing enterprises and increase publicity and promotion efforts.