Why Were Woody Oil Plants Chosen? An Analysis of the Reasons
Currently, why does the country want to accelerate the development of the woody oil plant industry? What difficulties still exist in developing this industry? How can it be supported and strengthened?
600 million mu of forestable wasteland is suitable for developing woody oil plants
In recent years, China's edible vegetable oil consumption has continued to grow, directly leading to a gap in the supply of edible vegetable oil, with a relatively high degree of dependence on foreign sources. In 2013, China's output of edible vegetable oil that year was more than 28 million tons, while domestic raw material production could only meet 40%, thus requiring large imports to meet domestic demand. In 2013 alone, 63.38 million tons of soybeans were imported.
Woody oil plants are a traditional industry in China and also an important source that can provide high-quality edible vegetable oil. Data show that China has nearly 600 million mu of forestable barren hills and wasteland, as well as large areas of saline-alkali land and sandy wasteland. Using these lands to vigorously develop woody oil plants neither competes with grain for land nor fails to effectively increase domestic edible vegetable oil supply, and it is of great significance for raising farmers' incomes, supporting the development of poor areas, and strengthening ecological civilization construction.
Looking across the world's edible oil market, producing woody oils has become a major measure for solving the problem of human edible oil shortages in today's world. For example, coconut oil in Indonesia supplies 60% of its national population, palm oil in Malaysia accounts for more than 60% of the world's total palm oil output, olive oil production in Greece has accounted for 93% of its national total edible oil, and the share in Spain has also reached 48%.
The woody oil plant industry has huge room for growth
China has a vast territory, and the distribution of water and heat resources varies greatly, providing unique conditions for the growth of different species of woody oil tree species. For example, oil tea, Chinese tallow tree, olive, tung tree, and oil palm are suitable for growing in the south; walnut, hickory, wild apricot, yellowhorn, hazelnut, Korean pine, and trident maple are suitable for growing in northern environments. In addition, there are cashew in Hainan, butterfly fruit and garlic fruit in Guangxi, as well as Chinese torreya in Zhejiang, among others.
But at present, there are still some difficult problems urgently needing to be solved in the development of China's woody oil plant industry:
Understanding of woody oil plants is inadequate and attention is insufficient; in the past, mainly seedling-grown plants were used for afforestation, varieties were seriously degraded, and combined with extensive management, most remained in a wild or semi-wild state, with low yields and no formed industry; because early-stage investment is relatively large, it is difficult for farmers to bear, as the early-stage investment for oil tea reaches 1000 yuan-3000 yuan per mu; the degree of industrialization is insufficient, the industrialization system has not yet formed, and the industrial chain has not been established.
The above problems constrain the development of China's woody oil plant industry, but they also show that this industry has huge room for value growth. As long as these problems are solved, the woody oil plant industry will certainly achieve rapid and healthy development.
Support policies will quickly follow
Looking across the globe, oil resources are limited. Therefore, China must base itself on national conditions, rely on self-reliance, and developing woody oil plant production is the general trend for alleviating China's edible oil shortage.
In order to promote the rapid development of the woody oil plant industry, the country will next increase support in areas such as finance, banking, and scientific research. The state will coordinate various types of afforestation investment, increase support for the construction of woody oil plant bases and the breeding of improved varieties, drive local investment, including driving various types of social investment to actively participate. The central government will continue to integrate funds to support the development of the woody oil plant industry and support major production areas in improving infrastructure and production conditions.
The state encourages commercial financial institutions, under the premise of controllable risks, to reasonably determine loan terms and interest rates and increase credit input in response to the characteristics of the woody oil plant industry, such as long cycles and large investment. It promotes innovation in financial products and service models, vigorously develops forest rights mortgage loans, small-amount credit loans for rural households, and rural household joint guarantee loans, and explores pilot business projects for mortgage loans on rural land contractual management rights.
In addition, the state will strengthen scientific and technological research, further support research on improved variety selection and breeding and high-yield cultivation techniques for woody oil plants, support the introduction of excellent germplasm resources, and establish national-level pilot demonstration bases in areas where the woody oil plant industry is concentrated.