The Development of the Rice Oil Industry Is of Profound Significance and Great Value (Part 2)

How can the potential for high-quality development of Chinese rice oil be unlocked? What is the significance of pursuing high-quality development in the rice oil sector?

Wang Ruiyuan: The production of rice bran oil in China has a long history; as early as the 1950s, comprehensive utilization efforts focused on extracting oil from rice bran were initiated. In the 1970s, with the support of national policies, another nationwide surge in the integrated utilization of rice bran and corn germ for oil extraction took place, during which rice bran oil output once exceeded 10,000 metric tons, playing a positive role in alleviating the domestic shortage of edible oils at the time. However, due to the small scale of rice mills at that time, large-scale production of rice bran oil was difficult to achieve, and inadequate preservation and refining technologies further constrained output, keeping it stuck around the 10,000-ton mark. In recent years, the state has placed increasing emphasis on the utilization of rice bran resources, and coupled with the scaling up of rice-processing enterprises and advances in rice-bran preservation and refining technologies, China’s rice bran oil production has risen year by year. According to statistics and analysis by the National Grain and Oil Information Center, China’s rice bran oil output reached 400,000 metric tons in 2012, 500,000 metric tons in 2018, and 600,000 metric tons in 2022. It should be noted, however, that despite the rapid growth in rice bran oil production over the past few years, its utilization rate remains below 30%. This is a considerable gap compared with Japan, where the utilization rate of rice-bran oil production is nearly 100%, and India, where the utilization rate exceeds 70%.

In China, there is considerable potential to further develop the rice oil industry and increase the nation’s oil and fat production; therefore, robust and sustained measures must be implemented to vigorously promote its expansion.

First, it is necessary to further enhance awareness of the vital importance of developing the rice industry. Under the combined impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and adverse weather conditions, the global economy and food and oil production have declined since 2020, leading to tight supplies of food and oil resources and a growing number of people facing hunger. The Party and the Chinese government have always attached great importance to food security; in particular, since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed food security at the forefront of its priorities, repeatedly emphasizing that “with food in hand, one need not worry,” and stressing the imperative of keeping the “rice bowl firmly in our own hands.” In 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping stated in his congratulatory letter to the International Conference on Food Loss and Waste Reduction: “Food security is a fundamental issue concerning human survival, and reducing food loss is an important measure for safeguarding food security.” To ensure national food security and establish a long-term mechanism for combating food waste, the Anti-Food-Waste Law of the People’s Republic of China was adopted at the 28th Session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress on April 29, 2021. The law includes provisions on the appropriate processing of grain and oil, the comprehensive utilization of by-products, the formulation and revision of relevant standards, and measures to prevent waste. It is thus evident that earnestly implementing grain-saving and loss-reduction initiatives, actively promoting comprehensive utilization—especially the effective use of rice bran resources—not only holds special and vital significance for food and oil security in China but also globally.

Second, we must continue to call on the relevant national authorities to intensify their support for the development of the rice oil industry. On May 25, 2017, 47 renowned experts in China’s oil and fat industry jointly submitted a letter to the National Grain Administration and the National Development and Reform Commission, recommending that the state significantly increase its support for the development of the rice bran oil industry. This initiative drew the attention of senior leaders. We will continue to advocate tirelessly, urging the relevant government departments to accord the efficient utilization of rice bran resources the same high priority as the development of oilseed production, and to provide the same level of support for the utilization of rice bran resources as they do for the development of the soybean industry and other oilseed crops. It is recommended that the state provide financial support to help rice-processing enterprises of a certain scale acquire equipment and technologies for preserving the freshness of rice bran, and that rice-oil producers be awarded incentives based on their actual output.

In accordance with the guiding principles of the Central Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued Document No. 1 on March 1, 2023, entitled “Opinions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on Accelerating the Mechanized and High-Quality Development of Primary Processing of Agricultural Products.” Among the key tasks outlined in the document is the call to “expedite the promotion and application of rice-bran puffing equipment to provide effective support for oil extraction from rice bran,” thereby advancing the utilization of rice-bran resources.

Third, we must increase technological investment in the rice oil industry. Given that the production and refining of rice bran oil are the most complex among all edible vegetable oils, and considering the abundance of bioactive compounds it contains, the prospects for its comprehensive utilization are exceptionally promising. Therefore, it is recommended that the relevant national authorities include the innovative development of processing technologies and equipment better suited to rice bran oil production, as well as its comprehensive utilization, in the national key science and technology research programs.

Fourth, we must intensify publicity efforts to promote the development of the rice oil industry. Public awareness campaigns should ensure that relevant government departments fully recognize the importance of maximizing the utilization of rice bran resources, which not only boosts national oil production and enhances China’s self-sufficiency in edible oils but also expands the supply of high-quality oil sources, thereby benefiting the general public. At the same time, such campaigns should educate consumers about the high nutritional value of rice bran oil as a premium edible oil that promotes long-term health, fostering greater public understanding of the scientific benefits of consuming rice bran oil and further driving the healthy, rapid, and high-quality development of the rice bran oil industry.

In summary, China boasts abundant rice bran resources, endowing the production of rice bran oil with enormous development potential. “As long as we carry out our work effectively and make full use of these resources, it will play a crucial role in enhancing China’s self-sufficiency in edible oils,” said Wang Ruiyuan.