In Chinese President’s Remarks, More Encouraging Signs for New Protein Development

On March 6, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited with members of the agricultural, social welfare and social security sectors during the session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He participated in the joint group meeting, listened to opinions and suggestions and delivered a speech that could have far-reaching implications for alternative protein development in the country.

In it, he mentioned the need for China to develop new proteins especially from plants and microorganisms, aka fermentation.

Xi Jinping pointed out: “It is necessary to establish a big food concept…(and) it is necessary to ask for food from forests, from rivers, lakes, and seas, and from facility agriculture. At the same time, it is necessary to expand from traditional crops and livestock and poultry resources to more abundant biological resources, develop biotechnology and bio-industry, and seek energy and protein from plants, animals, and micro-organisms.“

In Dao Foods’ view, and without a doubt, this is a welcome development and a signal that China’s highest levels of government are engaged in diversifying protein production. At the same time, it's still early and we must wait to see how this high-level directive translates into concrete and useful policies going forward. That will certainly take time, patience and, above all, consistent effort and attention at all levels of Chinese policy making and implementation.

Since our first alternative protein investment in China several years ago, we have been happy to support and mentor passionate early moving entrepreneurs and are excited for these kinds of signals of policy support and industry growth. In this regard, we at Dao Foods believe the Latin motto, Gradatim Ferociter, applies: “Step by Step, Ferociously.”