China is developing a new high-protein corn to replace imported soy

Chinese agronomists are developing new varieties of protein-rich corn that can replace soybeans in animal feed, which could be a decisive factor in China's efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign grain. In recent years, China has had to import soybeans in huge quantities for its growing livestock industry, as Chinese consumers increasingly shift to a diet high in meat and dairy products. Beijing views its growing dependence on foreign agricultural products as a threat to the country's food security, as well as a potential source of discord amid the escalating trade war with the United States. According to the president of the university, one possible solution is the development of corn with a higher protein content to replace soybeans in animal feed, and researchers from Huazhong Agricultural University in China have already developed several promising varieties. Given China's massive corn production, increasing the protein content of the grain by just one percentage point ...