Strengthening Standards to ⁤Guide⁢ and Promote Grain Saving and ⁣Loss Reduction

China News Service, Beijing, September⁣ 14th ⁣- “Grains are the ​life of the people and the treasure of the country.” From the fields to the people’s tables, a‍ grain of food has gone through the “four seasons” of harvesting, storage, processing ​and ⁤sales.⁣ The ⁣work of saving grain⁢ and reducing losses in⁤ the whole chain requires continuous and strong support from standards.

The Policy Research Office of the National Development ‍and Reform Commission, the General Office of ‌the National ⁣Grain and ⁣Strategic⁢ Reserves Administration, and ​China News Service jointly produced “Expert Talks on⁤ Saving Food⁤ and Reducing Losses”, inviting⁤ authoritative experts to interpret topics related to saving food and reducing losses.

Xu Guangchao, director‍ of the Grain Standards Division of the Standard and Quality Center of the National Grain and Strategic ‌Reserves Administration, said that⁤ grain standards run through all ‌aspects of grain production,⁢ circulation, consumption, and‌ other areas. Strengthening the​ formulation, revision, and implementation of standards can provide more scientific⁣ and⁢ effective guidance⁣ and ​technical support for saving‌ grain and reducing losses.

In recent years, ‌the State Food and Strategic Reserves‍ Administration has attached great importance ⁤to the ⁢standardization of grain saving and loss reduction, and has established a standard system for grain ⁤saving and‍ loss reduction in grain circulation, covering all ‌aspects​ of grain‍ procurement, storage, processing,⁢ and ⁢sales.

In the ‌procurement process, ‍Xu Guangchao said⁤ that the‌ four mandatory national standards for corn, wheat, rice and soybeans ⁢can effectively promote grain saving and ⁤loss reduction by setting relevant indicators reasonably. For example, the ​mandatory national standard for soybeans was revised, and the proportion of soybeans within the standard ‌was increased from 66% to 90% ‌by scientifically adjusting the ‍quality indicator of “damaged grain rate”, which ​is conducive to ​mobilizing farmers’ enthusiasm for growing grain, and effectively increasing the source of purchased grain, promoting grain saving and loss reduction.

In⁢ the storage link, Xu‍ Guangchao said⁢ that the National Grain ⁤and Strategic Reserves Administration adhered to ⁤the⁢ green orientation and reduced losses, and issued⁢ grain industry standards such ‌as “Technical Regulations for Carbon Dioxide Controlled Atmosphere Storage of Grain”, “Technical⁤ Regulations​ for Nitrogen Controlled ⁢Atmosphere ​Storage of Grain”, ⁣and “Technical ‌Regulations for Inert Powder Storage of⁤ Grain for ‌Pest Control”. Through green insecticide technology, it reduces ⁣the occurrence of diseases and⁤ pests, reduces grain losses⁤ in ‍the storage link, and effectively improves the level of green grain storage.

In the processing​ stage, Xu Guangchao pointed out that ‌we should adhere ⁢to moderate processing and nutrition and⁢ health, and focus on two ​aspects. On the one ⁣hand, we⁣ should guide processing enterprises to⁢ avoid excessive processing ​by ⁣setting reasonable processing precision and other indicators, and drive consumers to change their excessive ⁤pursuit of ‍”refined rice and white flour”. For example, the national standard “Rice” guides enterprises to moderate processing ⁢by setting an upper limit​ of processing precision,‍ which ‍not only retains more nutritional components ‌of rice, but also increases the total rice yield by 1.25 ​percentage points.

“On the other hand, the focus⁤ is on standardizing product processing operation technology,” Xu⁣ Guangchao said. The standards‌ such as the technical ⁢specifications for moderate processing ‍of relevant products are being ‌formulated, aiming to further standardize and guide corporate production and processing, and better promote the use of standardization to⁢ lead the ‍oil and fat industry⁤ in saving grain and reducing losses.

How do ‌the standards⁤ reflect food conservation and ⁢loss reduction under the big food perspective?

Xu Guangchao said that under the perspective of‌ the big food concept,⁣ the concept of⁤ food is no longer limited​ to rice, wheat, corn and other grains; the goal​ of food security has changed ‍from eating enough to eating well, eating nutritiously ‌and eating healthily, starting from better meeting the needs of ⁤people for ⁣a ‍better life; the way to obtain food has expanded from cultivated land resources to grasslands, forests, lakes⁣ and​ seas, etc. Focusing on “food”, increasing⁢ the diversified ⁢supply⁣ of ⁤food is actually saving grain and reducing losses.

Xu‌ Guangchao pointed out that first, a standard ⁤system⁢ for woody oils and fats should be established. So far, the State Food and Material Reserves Administration has ⁢promoted‍ the release of ⁤nearly 30⁣ woody oil and fat standards, including Camellia⁤ Seed Oil, Peony Seed Oil, Olive Oil, Olive Pomace Oil, etc. Secondly, increase the effective supply ⁢of whole grain⁤ standards. In recent years, the State Food and Material Reserves Administration ⁤has highlighted green ‍and ⁣high-quality, nutritious and healthy, and grain saving and ⁤loss reduction, and ⁢promoted the​ release and implementation of more than 10 whole grain standards such as Brown Rice and Whole Wheat Flour, which basically involve whole ⁢grain ⁣products with large circulation in the market, and the framework of the whole grain standard system​ has been‌ basically established.

Regarding how to‍ further leverage the role of standards in helping to save grain and reduce losses, Xu ​Guangchao‌ pointed out that, first, we must focus⁣ on⁤ the formulation ⁣and revision⁣ of‍ key standards. We must strengthen the formulation and revision of standards for moderate processing of bulk grain and oil and⁢ whole grains, ⁢strengthen the⁤ formulation and⁢ revision of advanced and applicable green grain storage technology ​standards, and accelerate ⁤the upgrading of technical standards for grain and oil machinery and equipment. Second, we must strengthen the implementation of standards. We must carry out‌ standardized pilot projects for moderate processing ‍of grain⁣ and oil, promote grain ‍and oil product processing companies to actively adopt grain saving and loss reduction standards, and promote technological upgrading of grain machinery‌ manufacturers. Third,​ we must continue to increase the effective supply of standards. ‍We must support social groups and​ companies ‍in researching and formulating relevant‌ group standards and enterprise standards⁤ to ⁢increase ⁢the effective market supply of⁢ grain saving and loss reduction⁢ standards.