Every year, the No.1 Central Document provides China’s strategic direction in agrifood and rural development. This year’s document is particularly relevant because 2026 is the first year of the new Five-Year Plan period, setting the stage for the coming years.
This year’s No.1 Central Document focuses on modernising agriculture, including promoting high-quality production and imports, and sustainable agriculture. It provides ample opportunities for Dutch companies. In food security, for example, it emphasises high-quality production and variety improvement, promotes agricultural technology breakthroughs and smart agriculture. The document also sets specific goals for rural green development, ecological restoration and sustainable agricultural development.
Erik Smidt, Agriculture Counsellor to China, explains: “For companies in the Netherlands, the No.1 Central Document offers ample opportunities in the Chinese market. For example, the document promotes increasing the diversity of imported products. Entry points for Dutch companies are, for example, horticulture technology, animal breeding, animal genetic material and sustainable aquaculture.”
What follows are highlights of the No.1 Central Document. It covers a lot of ground. The LVVN Network in China is ready to further delve into what the document means for specific agrifood sectors and to support engagements with Chinese counterparts.
"For companies in the Netherlands, the No.1 Central Document offers ample opportunities in the Chinese market."
Improving agricultural production capacity, quality and efficiency
The No.1 Central Document outlines a comprehensive agenda to secure food supply and upgrade agricultural production, centred on stabilising grain, wheat and rice and oilseed output while improving quality and efficiency across the food system. Alongside staple foods, the document targets higher quality and productivity in vegetables, eggs and dairy production. It also aims to strengthen pork production capacity management and promote the balanced, healthy development of the beef and dairy cattle sectors. Support is directed towards advancing deep-sea and far-sea aquaculture and modern ocean fishing, and fostering forest foods and biological agriculture.
Revitalising the seed industry is emphasised, including speeding up the breeding and promotion of key crop varieties and advancing the industrialisation of biological breeding. This is a relevant entry point for the Netherlands, given its long-standing expertise in the global seed industry. Throughout, the document stresses the strict implementation of food safety responsibility systems to ensure a reliable and safe supply from farm to fork.
Beeld: Karel van Bommel
Rice Paddies in Hainan Province, China
Enhancing quality of arable land
Advancing the construction of high-quality farmland is promoted, as well as comprehensive utilisation of saline-alkali land and carrying out remediation of acidic cultivated land. This is another entry point for theNetherlands to offer expertise and experience.
In the field of agricultural machinery, priorities include accelerating the research, development and application of high-end intelligent equipment, machinery suitable for hilly and mountainous regions, as well as forestry and grassland machinery. In parallel, the document promotes new agricultural productivity through the expanded use of artificial intelligence applications. This includes the use of drones, the Internet of Things and robots, alongside increasing technological innovation in agricultural bio-manufacturing.
Reinforcing disaster prevention measures
The No.1 Central Document strengthens agricultural disaster prevention and reduction systems by improving the capacity to respond to the effects of extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. In the same vein, farmland protective forests and wildfire prevention systems are promoted.
Unified prevention and control of pests and diseases are reinforced, as well as joint prevention of major animal diseases, including through participation in international agricultural governance. This is important in light of the promotion of imports and diversification of the origins of agricultural products, and the support for expanding Chinese agricultural exports.
Promoting stable income growth for farmers
Price support, subsidy and insurance policies are improved, aimed at raising rural incomes and keeping farmers interested and motivated in farming. This includes improving the value of agricultural products, strengthening cold-chain infrastructure such as pre-cooling, storage preservation, sorting and processing, and developing forestry and grassland industries. In parallel, farmers’ vocational skills training is promoted. Rural talent teams are strengthened to encourage the return of skilled workers to rural communities and the establishment of new businesses.
This priority in the No.1 Central Document presents an opportunity for Dutch companies that have been deeply involved in agricultural vocational education and the demonstration of modern, intelligent facility agriculture.
Efforts to modernise agriculture also include improving financial management. To provide farmers with greater long-term stability, rural land contracts are extended for an additional 30 years after expiry. Financial innovation is also a priority in the No.1 Document, with measures to innovate rural financing mechanisms, increase access to loans and establish a comprehensive rural credit system.
Investing in ecological civilisation
The No.1 Central Document advances scientific rural planning designed to optimise land use and improve quality of life. Currently, China has around 240 million mostly smallholder farms. Central villages are established, encouraging scattered residents to migrate towards these hubs. At the same time, rural infrastructure and public services are improved, public service accessibility is enhanced, and the overall comfort of rural living environments is increased.
Parallel efforts focus on promoting ecological protection and restoration in rural areas. Rural wastewater and waste treatment facilities are upgraded, green production methods and water-saving irrigation technologies are promoted, and eco-friendly, low-carbon agriculture is developed. Soil contamination by heavy metals, animal husbandry manure, and ecological issues linked to marine aquaculture are addressed, while import quarantine inspection is strengthened to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive plant and animal species.
Key messages
1. The No.1 Central Document sets the direction for the 15th Five-Year Plan
The 2026 No.1 Central Document is particularly significant as it marks the first year of the new Five-Year Plan period. It establishes the strategic direction for agricultural and rural modernisation that will guide policy development in the coming years.
2. Strong focus on agricultural modernisation and food security
The document prioritises stabilising grain and oilseed production while improving quality, efficiency and productivity across the food system. It promotes seed industry revitalisation, smart agriculture, advanced machinery, bio-manufacturing and food safety systems to strengthen long-term food security.
3. Sustainability and ecological development are central
Green development is a major pillar, including high-quality farmland construction, soil remediation, water-saving irrigation, wastewater treatment, ecological restoration and low-carbon agriculture. Disaster prevention and climate resilience are also reinforced.
4. Rural revitalisation and farmer income growth are priorities
Policies aim to raise rural incomes through price support, insurance, improved cold-chain infrastructure and value addition. Vocational training, rural talent return, financial innovation and long-term land contract extensions are designed to strengthen rural livelihoods and stability.
5. Significant opportunities for Dutch agrifood businesses
The document’s emphasis on high-quality production, diversified imports, seed development, horticulture technology, animal genetics, sustainable aquaculture, smart farming and vocational education creates concrete entry points for Dutch companies active in the Chinese market.
Going forward
The strategic direction for agricultural and rural modernisation provided in the No.1 Central Document sets the stage for the implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan published in January 2026. Still, the No.1 Document covers a broad range of topics, some more detailed than others. These topics will be further articulated in specific policies for each sector at the national and sub-national levels of government.
The LVVN Attaché Network in China looks forward to exploring opportunities for Dutch businesses and industries. Find us at pek-lvvn@minbuza.nl.