Back
About RSIS
Introduction
Building the Foundations
Welcome Message
Board of Governors
Staff Profiles
Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
Dean’s Office
Management
Distinguished Fellows
Faculty and Research
Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
Visiting Fellows
Adjunct Fellows
Administrative Staff
Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
RSIS Endowment Fund
Endowed Professorships
Career Opportunities
Getting to RSIS
Research
Research Centres
Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
Centre of Excellence for National Security
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
Research Programmes
National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)
Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
Other Research
Future Issues and Technology Cluster
Research@RSIS
Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
Graduate Education
Graduate Programmes Office
Exchange Partners and Programmes
How to Apply
Financial Assistance
Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
RSIS Alumni
Outreach
Global Networks
About Global Networks
RSIS Alumni
Executive Education
About Executive Education
SRP Executive Programme
Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
International Programmes
About International Programmes
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)
International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
Publications
RSIS Publications
Annual Reviews
Books
Bulletins and Newsletters
RSIS Commentary Series
Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
Commemorative / Event Reports
Future Issues
IDSS Papers
Interreligious Relations
Monographs
NTS Insight
Policy Reports
Working Papers
External Publications
Authored Books
Journal Articles
Edited Books
Chapters in Edited Books
Policy Reports
Working Papers
Op-Eds
Glossary of Abbreviations
Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
RSIS Publications for the Year
External Publications for the Year
Media
Cohesive Societies
Sustainable Security
Other Resource Pages
News Releases
Speeches
Video/Audio Channel
External Podcasts
Events
Contact Us
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University
  • About RSIS
      IntroductionBuilding the FoundationsWelcome MessageBoard of GovernorsHonours and Awards for RSIS Staff and StudentsRSIS Endowment FundEndowed ProfessorshipsCareer OpportunitiesGetting to RSIS
      Staff ProfilesExecutive Deputy Chairman’s OfficeDean’s OfficeManagementDistinguished FellowsFaculty and ResearchAssociate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research AnalystsVisiting FellowsAdjunct FellowsAdministrative Staff
  • Research
      Research CentresCentre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)Centre of Excellence for National SecurityInstitute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      Research ProgrammesNational Security Studies Programme (NSSP)Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      Other ResearchFuture Issues and Technology ClusterResearch@RSISScience and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      Graduate Programmes OfficeExchange Partners and ProgrammesHow to ApplyFinancial AssistanceMeet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other eventsRSIS Alumni
  • Outreach
      Global NetworksAbout Global NetworksRSIS Alumni
      Executive EducationAbout Executive EducationSRP Executive ProgrammeTerrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
      International ProgrammesAbout International ProgrammesAsia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
  • Publications
      RSIS PublicationsAnnual ReviewsBooksBulletins and NewslettersRSIS Commentary SeriesCounter Terrorist Trends and AnalysesCommemorative / Event ReportsFuture IssuesIDSS PapersInterreligious RelationsMonographsNTS InsightPolicy ReportsWorking Papers
      External PublicationsAuthored BooksJournal ArticlesEdited BooksChapters in Edited BooksPolicy ReportsWorking PapersOp-Eds
      Glossary of AbbreviationsPolicy-relevant Articles Given RSIS AwardRSIS Publications for the YearExternal Publications for the Year
  • Media
      Cohesive SocietiesSustainable SecurityOther Resource PagesNews ReleasesSpeechesVideo/Audio ChannelExternal Podcasts
  • Events
  • Contact Us
    • Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
      rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
      rsis.sg
      rsissg
      RSIS
      RSS
      Subscribe to RSIS Publications
      Subscribe to RSIS Events

      Getting to RSIS

      Nanyang Technological University
      Block S4, Level B3,
      50 Nanyang Avenue,
      Singapore 639798

      Click here for direction to RSIS

      Get in Touch

    Connect
    Search
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • China-US Tech War: The Impact on Global Food Security
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • RSIS Commentary Series
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • Future Issues
    • IDSS Papers
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers

    CO23060 | China-US Tech War: The Impact on Global Food Security
    Zhang Hongzhou, Paul Teng, Genevieve Donnellon-May

    25 April 2023

    download pdf

    SYNOPSIS

    Emerging technologies could potentially revolutionise agriculture. However, the China-US tech war and systemic US-China competition, already expanding into agricultural technologies (agritech), present both opportunities and challenges for global food security. This could result in unequal access to agritech globally, particularly for emerging countries, thus bringing about serious consequences for global food security.

    230426 CO23060 China US Tech War The Impact on Global Food Security
    Source: Unsplash

    COMMENTARY

    The world is currently experiencing an unprecedented global food crisis, with 345.2 million people projected to face hunger in 2023. To alleviate this problem and feed a growing global population, more food must be produced.

    However, climate change, ecological degradation, and various political factors continue to challenge global agricultural production and the supply of food to needy populations. Furthermore, the over-use and inefficient uses of chemical fertilisers and pesticides have contributed to carbon emissions and resource degradation, thus undermining the long-term sustainability of food systems.

    Emerging technologies can help to address these concerns while also supporting food security efforts. But their application and extent are jeopardised by the ongoing geopolitical tensions between the big powers.

    The Competition in Emerging Technologies

    Artificial Intelligence (AI), Autonomous Systems (AS) and biotechnologies have the potential to revolutionise food production by enabling more efficient data analyses, increasing yield potential, streamlining production processes, and producing novel food such as cultured meat.

    The US, home to many of the world’s leading tech companies and research institutions, is a leader in AI research and development. Although it was, together with Western European countries like the Netherlands and Germany, pioneers in ‘smart farming’ using ‘Internet-of-Things’ (IoT) systems, China and other Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, have caught up. In particular, China has emerged as one of the global leaders in AI, with the central government investing heavily in the technology as part of its broader national development plan. Chinese companies and farmers are not only innovating IoT applications, but also the component technologies such as ‘intelligent’ drones which sense, analyse, and take intervening action.

    Regarding biotechnologies, the US is a global powerhouse in developing and commercialising agribiotech. Many of the world’s largest biotech companies such as Bayer (formerly Monsanto) and Corteva (formerly DuPont), have their origins in the US, with the government having been a strong supporter.

    However, China is catching up fast. Aside from investments in crop biotech and ‘novel future foods’ (like cultured meat), Chinese state-owned enterprises are acquiring foreign agribusinesses. Chinese researchers have also made significant strides, such as in discovering how to produce an animal feed protein from carbon monoxide, which could reduce China’s reliance on imported soybeans.

    The China-US Tech War

    The ongoing China-US tech war and related trade frictions, geostrategic rivalry, and technological contestation are threatening the development of agricultural biotech. Trade frictions and technological contests between the two countries have existed since 2017, with the US-China trade war starting in 2018 under then-US president Donald Trump.

    Bilateral relations have not improved much under the administration of US President Joe Biden. Having already introduced sweeping export controls on AI and semiconductor technologies, the US is now looking to impose controls on other emerging technologies such as biotechnologies.

    In response, China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology recently announced that they are seeking public comment regarding proposed changes to the catalogue of technologies restricted for export. The export ban list is a warning to other countries looking to follow the US such as Japan and the Netherlands.

    Accelerating Technology Development

    Amid the great tech rivalry between the US and China, both countries have increased investments in several tech fields to drive innovation in agritech to create more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices, and also potentially to improve global food security.

    Washington is using a whole-of-government approach to advance biotechnology in agriculture and supply chain resilience to boost agricultural production and create climate-smart incentives. Likewise, Beijing is elevating agribiotech development to a national priority under its seed revitalisation plan.

    Furthermore, as China and the US compete to establish themselves as leaders in agritech, they may collaborate with other nations through various initiatives or share their technologies with other countries. This could result in the adoption of more advanced agricultural practices worldwide, while also improving overall food production and security.

    Nevertheless, the potential risks may outweigh any positives. Persistent US efforts to choke off China’s access to chips and other advanced technologies, along with China’s responses, hinder global efforts to achieve sustainable agricultural development. Agritech weaponisation is undesirable for all countries.

    Implications for Food Security

    For China, this raises questions about the country’s food security ambitions. As the country’s rapid agribiotech development is partly due to strong collaboration (such as in technology transfers) with countries like the US, the agritech export restrictions threaten Beijing’s food security targets. In response, Beijing aims to develop domestic agribiotechnology to boost domestic food production.

    Globally, as China and the US are among the world’s leading agricultural producers and traders, the tech wars will inevitably affect domestic food production, exports, and agricultural trade patterns, while simultaneously reshaping global food supply chains. Other countries may be forced to choose between the US and China to secure agritech and agricultural imports.

    This situation leads to questions about the future of global food governance. In an era of great power competition, both the US and China aim to impose their standards worldwide. The increasing Chinese prowess in technologies may result in Beijing playing a greater role in global science, agriculture, and technology governance.

    Lastly, the potential inclusion of agritech in the tech war could impact Asia’s food security. The tech war’s indirect impact on global import and export of food (such as animal products, grains, and edible oils) could make it challenging for Asian countries to secure key technologies needed to feed their hungry and growing populations. But Asian countries may also seek to extract advantages from the US and China, while committing to neither unless circumstances force them to make a choice.

    Looking Ahead

    The implications of the tech war extending into agritech raises questions about the ethics of the war. Given the worsening global food crisis and interlinked issues like malnutrition and hunger, shouldn’t the US and China place ethical standards above geopolitics and geostrategic rivalries by continuing to export agritech and agricultural products? Not doing so may contribute to a worsening global food crisis.

    About the Authors

    Zhang Hongzhou is a Research Fellow with the China Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. Genevieve Donnellon-May is a researcher at Oxford Global Society and an analyst for The Red Line. Paul Teng is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre), RSIS.

    Categories: RSIS Commentary Series / Country and Region Studies / International Politics and Security / Non-Traditional Security / East Asia and Asia Pacific / South Asia / Southeast Asia and ASEAN / Global
    comments powered by Disqus

    SYNOPSIS

    Emerging technologies could potentially revolutionise agriculture. However, the China-US tech war and systemic US-China competition, already expanding into agricultural technologies (agritech), present both opportunities and challenges for global food security. This could result in unequal access to agritech globally, particularly for emerging countries, thus bringing about serious consequences for global food security.

    230426 CO23060 China US Tech War The Impact on Global Food Security
    Source: Unsplash

    COMMENTARY

    The world is currently experiencing an unprecedented global food crisis, with 345.2 million people projected to face hunger in 2023. To alleviate this problem and feed a growing global population, more food must be produced.

    However, climate change, ecological degradation, and various political factors continue to challenge global agricultural production and the supply of food to needy populations. Furthermore, the over-use and inefficient uses of chemical fertilisers and pesticides have contributed to carbon emissions and resource degradation, thus undermining the long-term sustainability of food systems.

    Emerging technologies can help to address these concerns while also supporting food security efforts. But their application and extent are jeopardised by the ongoing geopolitical tensions between the big powers.

    The Competition in Emerging Technologies

    Artificial Intelligence (AI), Autonomous Systems (AS) and biotechnologies have the potential to revolutionise food production by enabling more efficient data analyses, increasing yield potential, streamlining production processes, and producing novel food such as cultured meat.

    The US, home to many of the world’s leading tech companies and research institutions, is a leader in AI research and development. Although it was, together with Western European countries like the Netherlands and Germany, pioneers in ‘smart farming’ using ‘Internet-of-Things’ (IoT) systems, China and other Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, have caught up. In particular, China has emerged as one of the global leaders in AI, with the central government investing heavily in the technology as part of its broader national development plan. Chinese companies and farmers are not only innovating IoT applications, but also the component technologies such as ‘intelligent’ drones which sense, analyse, and take intervening action.

    Regarding biotechnologies, the US is a global powerhouse in developing and commercialising agribiotech. Many of the world’s largest biotech companies such as Bayer (formerly Monsanto) and Corteva (formerly DuPont), have their origins in the US, with the government having been a strong supporter.

    However, China is catching up fast. Aside from investments in crop biotech and ‘novel future foods’ (like cultured meat), Chinese state-owned enterprises are acquiring foreign agribusinesses. Chinese researchers have also made significant strides, such as in discovering how to produce an animal feed protein from carbon monoxide, which could reduce China’s reliance on imported soybeans.

    The China-US Tech War

    The ongoing China-US tech war and related trade frictions, geostrategic rivalry, and technological contestation are threatening the development of agricultural biotech. Trade frictions and technological contests between the two countries have existed since 2017, with the US-China trade war starting in 2018 under then-US president Donald Trump.

    Bilateral relations have not improved much under the administration of US President Joe Biden. Having already introduced sweeping export controls on AI and semiconductor technologies, the US is now looking to impose controls on other emerging technologies such as biotechnologies.

    In response, China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology recently announced that they are seeking public comment regarding proposed changes to the catalogue of technologies restricted for export. The export ban list is a warning to other countries looking to follow the US such as Japan and the Netherlands.

    Accelerating Technology Development

    Amid the great tech rivalry between the US and China, both countries have increased investments in several tech fields to drive innovation in agritech to create more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices, and also potentially to improve global food security.

    Washington is using a whole-of-government approach to advance biotechnology in agriculture and supply chain resilience to boost agricultural production and create climate-smart incentives. Likewise, Beijing is elevating agribiotech development to a national priority under its seed revitalisation plan.

    Furthermore, as China and the US compete to establish themselves as leaders in agritech, they may collaborate with other nations through various initiatives or share their technologies with other countries. This could result in the adoption of more advanced agricultural practices worldwide, while also improving overall food production and security.

    Nevertheless, the potential risks may outweigh any positives. Persistent US efforts to choke off China’s access to chips and other advanced technologies, along with China’s responses, hinder global efforts to achieve sustainable agricultural development. Agritech weaponisation is undesirable for all countries.

    Implications for Food Security

    For China, this raises questions about the country’s food security ambitions. As the country’s rapid agribiotech development is partly due to strong collaboration (such as in technology transfers) with countries like the US, the agritech export restrictions threaten Beijing’s food security targets. In response, Beijing aims to develop domestic agribiotechnology to boost domestic food production.

    Globally, as China and the US are among the world’s leading agricultural producers and traders, the tech wars will inevitably affect domestic food production, exports, and agricultural trade patterns, while simultaneously reshaping global food supply chains. Other countries may be forced to choose between the US and China to secure agritech and agricultural imports.

    This situation leads to questions about the future of global food governance. In an era of great power competition, both the US and China aim to impose their standards worldwide. The increasing Chinese prowess in technologies may result in Beijing playing a greater role in global science, agriculture, and technology governance.

    Lastly, the potential inclusion of agritech in the tech war could impact Asia’s food security. The tech war’s indirect impact on global import and export of food (such as animal products, grains, and edible oils) could make it challenging for Asian countries to secure key technologies needed to feed their hungry and growing populations. But Asian countries may also seek to extract advantages from the US and China, while committing to neither unless circumstances force them to make a choice.

    Looking Ahead

    The implications of the tech war extending into agritech raises questions about the ethics of the war. Given the worsening global food crisis and interlinked issues like malnutrition and hunger, shouldn’t the US and China place ethical standards above geopolitics and geostrategic rivalries by continuing to export agritech and agricultural products? Not doing so may contribute to a worsening global food crisis.

    About the Authors

    Zhang Hongzhou is a Research Fellow with the China Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. Genevieve Donnellon-May is a researcher at Oxford Global Society and an analyst for The Red Line. Paul Teng is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre), RSIS.

    Categories: RSIS Commentary Series / Country and Region Studies / International Politics and Security / Non-Traditional Security

    Popular Links

    About RSISResearch ProgrammesGraduate EducationPublicationsEventsAdmissionsCareersVideo/Audio ChannelRSIS Intranet

    Connect with Us

    rsis.ntu
    rsis_ntu
    rsisntu
    rsisvideocast
    school/rsis-ntu
    rsis.sg
    rsissg
    RSIS
    RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    Getting to RSIS

    Nanyang Technological University
    Block S4, Level B3,
    50 Nanyang Avenue,
    Singapore 639798

    Click here for direction to RSIS

    Get in Touch

      Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
      Privacy Statement / Terms of Use
      Help us improve

        Rate your experience with this website
        123456
        Not satisfiedVery satisfied
        What did you like?
        0/255 characters
        What can be improved?
        0/255 characters
        Your email
        Please enter a valid email.
        Thank you for your feedback.
        This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
        OK
        Latest Book
        more info