This conference proceedings examines questions revolving around changes in, and challenges for, China’s agro-processing sector.

This publication presents a synthesis of the main findings and policy recommendations of China in the World Economy: Domestic Policy Challenges.

World-wide losses of crops, post-harvest, through microbial action,pests, diseases and other types of spoilage amount to millions oftons every year. This essential handbook is the first in athree-volume series which covers all factors affecting post-harvestquality of all major fruits, vegetables, cereals and other crops.Compiled by members of the world-renowned Natural ResourcesInstitute at the University of Greenwich, Chatham, UK, thecomprehensive contents of this landmark publication encourageinteractions between each sector of the agricultural community inorder to improve food security, food safety and food quality intoday’s global atmosphere. Through the carefully compiled and edited chapters,internationally respected authors discuss ways to improve harvestyield and quality, drawing on their many years’ practicalexperience and the latest research findings, applications andmethodologies. Subjects covered include: an introduction to thesystems used in post-harvest agricultural processes, physical andbiological factors affecting post-harvest commodities, storageissues, pest management, food processing and preservation, foodsystems, the latest research and assimilation of this work, andcurrent trade and international agreements. An invaluable glossaryshowing important pests, pathogens and plants is alsoincluded. Crop Post-Harvest: Science and Technology Volume 1: Principlesand Practice is a must-have reference book which offers the readeran overview of the globalisation of post-harvest science,technology, economics, and the development of the storage andhandling of perishable and durable products. Volumes 2 and 3 willgo on to explore durables and perishables individually in moredetail, with many case studies taken from around the globe. This 3-volume work is the standard handbook and reference forall professionals involved in the harvesting, shipping, storage andprocessing of crops, including agricultural and plant scientists,food scientists and technologists, microbiologists, plantpathologists, entomologists and all post harvest, shipping andstorage consultants. Libraries in all universities and researchestablishments where these subjects are studied and taught shouldhave multiple copies on their shelves

Drawing on the experiences of OECD Members over the past 50 years, and the Organisation’s extensive work with non-Member economies around the world, this landmark study provides readers with a comprehensive view of the interrelated domestic policy issues at stake and specific recommendations.

Since the mid-1990s, "agricultural industrialisation" (AI) has been advocated in China to promote rural development by integrating agriculture with the post-harvest sectors such as agro-processing and marketing. Large-scale "Dragon head enterprises" (DHEs) and various forms of rural household associations (RAs) have been particularly promoted as AI organisational models. Drawing on the case study of the sweet potato sector in Sichuan Province, this book investigates their impact on rural livelihoods. Lingohr-Wolf analyses the forms of household linkages with AI organisations, the underlying household incentives to diversify both labour and agricultural production towards AI, and the developmental benefits and potential constraints that shape such rural involvement. By taking a rural household perspective on livelihood diversification, the analysis provides new insights into the links between rural household involvement in AI and the achievement of development objectives. It reveals that although there are significant beneficial effects, a number of challenges, such as entry barriers and imbalances in bargaining power, still need to be addressed to improve the positive impact of AI for rural development in China. As the first authoritative analysis of AI in China, this book is an essential read for scholars interested in economic development in China and rural development and agricultural economics more generally.

The pace of growth in China's agricultural sector is remarkable. Determining how this demand for food will be met requires a complex analytical framework whose parameters are the subject of an intense discussion. Thesse workshop proceedings provide a rich repository of material addressing the issue.

Prior to the initiation of economic reforms and trade liberalization 36 years ago, China maintained policies that kept the economy very poor, stagnant, centrally-controlled, vastly inefficient, and relatively isolated from the global economy. Since opening up to foreign trade and investment and implementing free market reforms in 1979, China has been among the world's fastest-growing economies, with real annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth averaging nearly 10% through 2016. In recent years, China has emerged as a major global economic power. It is now the world's largest economy (on a purchasing power parity basis), manufacturer, merchandise trader, and holder of foreign exchange reserves.The global economic crisis that began in 2008 greatly affected China's economy. China's exports, imports, and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows declined, GDP growth slowed, and millions of Chinese workers reportedly lost their jobs. The Chinese government responded by implementing a $586 billion economic stimulus package and loosening monetary policies to increase bank lending. Such policies enabled China to effectively weather the effects of the sharp global fall in demand for Chinese products, but may have contributed to overcapacity in several industries and increased debt by Chinese firms and local government. China's economy has slowed in recent years. Real GDP growth has slowed in each of the past six years, dropping from 10.6% in 2010 to 6.7% in 2016, and is projected to slow to 5.7% by 2022.The Chinese government has attempted to steer the economy to a "new normal" of slower, but more stable and sustainable, economic growth. Yet, concerns have deepened in recent years over the health of the Chinese economy. On August 11, 2015, the Chinese government announced that the daily reference rate of the renminbi (RMB) would become more "market-oriented." Over the next three days, the RMB depreciated against the dollar and led to charges that China's goal was to boost exports to help stimulate the economy (which some suspect is in worse shape than indicated by official Chinese economic statistics). Concerns over the state of the Chinese economy appear to have often contributed to volatility in global stock indexes in recent years.The ability of China to maintain a rapidly growing economy in the long run will likely depend largely on the ability of the Chinese government to implement comprehensive economic reforms that more quickly hasten China's transition to a free market economy; rebalance the Chinese economy by making consumer demand, rather than exporting and fixed investment, the main engine of economic growth; boost productivity and innovation; address growing income disparities; and enhance environmental protection. The Chinese government has acknowledged that its current economic growth model needs to be altered and has announced several initiatives to address various economic challenges. In November 2013, the Communist Party of China held the Third Plenum of its 18th Party Congress, which outlined a number of broad policy reforms to boost competition and economic efficiency. For example, the communique stated that the market would now play a "decisive" role in allocating resources in the economy. At the same time, however, the communique emphasized the continued important role of the state sector in China's economy. In addition, many foreign firms have complained that the business climate in China has worsened in recent years. Thus, it remains unclear how committed the Chinese government is to implementing new comprehensive economic reforms.China's economic rise has significant implications for the United States and hence is of major interest to Congress. This report provides background on China's economic rise; describes its current economic structure; identifies the challenges China faces to maintain economic growth; and discusses the challenges, opportunities, and implications of China's economic rise.