Soil deterioration in China 'could lead to food crisis'

The poor quality of China's soil could lead to a food crisis in the future, it has been suggested.

Han Jun, a rural policy expert at the Development Research Centre, said soil deterioration is a major issue.

He warned that without protection, it will be difficult to produce enough food for the 300 million to 400 million people who are expected to move from the countryside to the city over the next 30 years, the Guardian reports.

"I believe improving the quality [of soil] is of equal importance to protecting the amount of arable land," Mr Jun commented.

He noted that farming methods and industrial waste have contributed to the problem.

In related news, the government in the UK recently launched a consultation on the use of pesticides in a bid to improve the standard of soil and comply with an EU directive on the sustainable use of chemicals.

Written by Lauren Steadman