China's annual output of forest food exceeded 200 million tonnes in 2024, data from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration showed on Friday.
Forest food refers to the food produced in forests or woodlands, including edible fruits, flowers, leaves, and branches. Friday marks the 13th International Day of Forests, with this year's theme highlighting the critical role forests play in food production.
In China, forest food has become the third-largest agricultural category after grains and vegetables, according to the administration.
China has more than 3.4 billion mu (about 226.7 million hectares) of forests and 8,000 kinds of woody plants, which contain rich food resources. In 2024, the economic forest cultivation area reached 700 million mu, with an annual output value exceeding 2 trillion yuan.
China's understory economy, a sector that maximizes the economic potential of forested lands through activities like mushroom cultivation, medicinal plant farming, utilized 600 million mu of forest land, contributing an impressive annual output value of approximately one trillion yuan.
The country’s fruit production is particularly robust, with 200 million mu of cultivation area yielding approximately 190 million tonnes of fruit. The supply of woody oils, such as tea oil, olive oil, walnut oil, and peony seed oil, has become increasingly diverse. Additionally, woody staples like chestnuts, dates, persimmons, pine nuts, and apricot kernels are abundant, with a cultivation area of about 100 million mu and an output of 14 million tonnes. Forest-based farming also supports the production of 4.9 billion poultry and over 50 million livestock.
China's forest food industry not only enhances food security but also promotes sustainable land use and rural economic development, aligning with global efforts to recognize forests as vital contributors to food systems.
China's forest food output exceeds 200 million tonnes, bolstering food security
