Save a grain of food: four ministries and commissions including the Ministry of Agriculture and the State Administration of Grain issue a joint initiative

Food is the foundation of human survival and the basis of economic and social development. Since the reform and opening up, China's grain output has increased substantially, and the capacity to ensure food security has steadily strengthened. However, the contradiction between a large population and limited arable land has become increasingly prominent, and problems such as the shortage of freshwater resources and the decline in the quality of arable land are trending toward worsening. At the same time, there is a large amount of loss and waste in grain production, circulation, processing and consumption, and the grain lost and wasted each year is equivalent to the annual rations of more than 200 million people.

The Party Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to the work of saving grain and reducing losses. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly required that the unhealthy trend of wasting food must be resolutely stopped. On the occasion of World Food Day 2014 and the Grain Love and Grain Saving Publicity Week, we issue an initiative to the whole of society: start with me, save a grain of food.

Vigorously carry forward the traditional virtue of diligence and thrift, and make loving grain and saving grain a fine social trend. The media should make loving grain and saving grain a regular part of publicity, report advanced examples and expose acts of wasting food. Units, enterprises and all kinds of organizations and institutions should carry out publicity on cherishing grain and saving grain in appropriate ways. Strengthen education on loving grain and saving grain for university, middle and primary school students, continue to carry out Youth League day and Young Pioneers day activities themed on saving grain, and help young people from an early age establish the concept that saving grain is glorious and wasting is shameful. The broad masses of cadres and people should take loving grain and saving grain as an important part of establishing the core socialist values and raising moral standards.

Start with every person and every family, and develop the good habit of saving and cherishing grain. Widely and deeply carry out the selection activities of “Grain-Loving Households” and “Grain-Saving Tips”, guide more families to budget carefully, use grain scientifically, combine coarse and fine grains, pay attention to nutrition and eat healthily, and not excessively pursue rice and flour that are “refined, white and shiny”. When dining out, do not consume excessively, pack up leftovers and take them home, and put an end to waste at the dining table.

⟦NL> Party and government organs at all levels, public institutions, social organizations, state-owned enterprises and the broad masses of party members and cadres should take the lead in setting an example, strictly implement the Central Committee's eight-point regulations, implement saving measures for official receptions, business banquets and other activities, and put an end to any form of food waste. Effectively carry out activities such as the “Clean Plate Campaign” and “Civilized Dining Table” in universities and middle schools across the country, build school canteens into models of loving grain and saving grain, and guide kindergartens, nurseries and all kinds of schools to cherish grain and consume healthily. Unit canteens and all kinds of restaurants and hotels should conscientiously implement catering standards and grain use standards, and close all loopholes that lead to grain waste.

Take various measures to reduce loss and waste in grain production, circulation, storage and processing. Guide and help farmers with grain harvesting and storage, and strive to ensure that every grain is brought into the granary. Circulation and warehousing enterprises should carry forward the fine tradition of “rather shed a thousand drops of sweat than let a single grain spoil”, and continuously improve the ability and level of scientific grain storage and grain saving and loss reduction. Grain processing enterprises should strictly implement national standards, increase the conversion rate of finished grain, extend the industrial chain, and do a good job in the comprehensive utilization of raw grain.

“Every bowl of porridge and every bowl of rice should remind us of how hard-won they are”. Let us act actively, start with ourselves, save every grain of food, and strive to make loving grain and saving grain a common practice throughout society.