"IATP is working with Chinese partners to help China build a more just and sustainable food, farming and trade system. We are building bridges for sustainability and social justice between China and the world, with a focus on organic agriculture, fair trade and healthy food systems."

—Jim Harkness
President, IATP

IATP is supporting those working for a more just and sustainable food system in China through networking, information exchange, research and education activities.

Supporting Sustainable Food Systems in China
IATP will work with Chinese academics, non-governmental organizations, and farm groups to share research and experiences in building sustainable food systems.

Exchange Programs
IATP is facilitating a series of short- to medium-term educational exchanges for those interested in sustainable agricultural systems in the U.S. and China.

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Exploring consumer cooperatives in China

May 24–25, 2010
Beijing, China

IATP—along with the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), Renmin University of China and the University of Agriculture and Rural Development Cooperative College—hosted a two-day workshop on consumer cooperatives in Beijing. Lindy Bannister (pictured above with IATP President Jim Harkness), General Manager of the Wedge Community Coop in Minneapolis, was a featured guest. Check out videos and photos from the trip.

Exploring consumer cooperatives in China  Blog | May 27

Food coops—from Minnesota to China (videos)  Blog | May 28

An official thumbs-up for organic ag in China  Blog | May 28

View the Facebook photo album  Blog  | Photos

International Workshop on
Sustainable Food and Agriculture

食品与农业可持续发展国际研讨会

March 12–15, 2010
Renmin (People’s) University, Beijing, China

Our global food and agriculture systems are in crisis. Energy and input-intensive farming practices—along with industrial food processing and distribution systems— are major emitters of greenhouse gases and are widely understood to be out of sync with the long term goal of achieving sustainability. During the International Workshop on Sustainable Food and Agriculture, participants from China and the world over met to share their knowledge, discuss the current challenges of global food and agriculture systems, and identify the best ways forward to sustainable solutions.

Conference Agenda

Conference Agenda (Chinese)

Jim Harkness, President of IATP, and Professor Wen Tiejun of Renmin University addressed the topic the role of China in agriculture in a Central China TV interview conducted during the conference.

Central China TV: Role of Agriculture in China

Part 1 (8 minutes)

Part 2 (8 minutes)

Shi Yan and her Little Donkey Farm: An article from Sanlian Life Weekly (translated from Chinese) about the CSA Farm Shi Yan developed in China after her experience working at a small farm in Minnesota.
September 17, 2008 | Yang Lu | PDF

My Alternative Farming Experience in America: Blog entries from a Chinese graduate student working at a small farm in Minnesota.
August 21, 2008 | Yang Yan | PDF

Think Forward/China: Analysis and observations about food systems in China.
IATP | BLOG

U.S.-China Agreement on Food Safety: Terms and Enforcement Capacity: Analysis of an agreement on food safety regulatory systems between the U.S. and China.
May 27, 2008 | Steve Suppan | PDF

IATP Launches New Initiative on Food and Agriculture in China: Press release in English and Chinese announcing the new program.
June 4, 2007 | IATP | PDF

Fixing Our Broken Food System: Commentary on the discovery of industrial chemicals in animal feed imported from China and links to the global food system.
May 24, 2007 | Jim Harkness | PDF

"Through all of our engagement with China, the U.S. government has aggressively promoted China's adoption of an American-style, high-consumption, high-waste economic model. Combine that with the global trading rules [that downplay environmental and labor standards], the tremendous constraints China faces in terms of its need to generate employment, and the fact that they've got all that coal and no oil-and how surprised can we be that we've ended up with an environmental nightmare?"
Mother Jones | December 2007 | Jim Harkness

May. 8: Tap that water: Controversy surrounds the argument for dam-building in Africa

Feb. 10: China considering green tax as extent of air and water pollution is revealed

Jan. 25: If You Liked Bovine Growth Hormone, You'll love Beta Agonists

Jan. 19: India Spars with Pakistan, China over Water

Dec. 1: U.S. Investment Treaties and the Public Interest

Agobservatory is IATP's Web site for the latest news, reports and analysis on the environment and agriculture.

Have a question or comment about the China Initiative's work? Drop us a line!