China Overhauls Agriculture Law to Strengthen Food Security and Rural Development
务农重本 农业法完成修订
On August 28, 2026, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress passed a major revision of the Agriculture Law, effective January 1, 2027. Xinhua frames the revision as a fundamental update to address new challenges in rural revitalization and building a strong agricultural sector. The law enshrines a national food security strategy centered on self-sufficiency, introduces a new chapter on 'green agricultural development', and mandates protections for farmers' land rights amid urbanization.
The view from inside
The report treats the revision as a natural and necessary step for the 'new era', using the classical phrase '务农重本，国之大纲' (farming is fundamental, the state's great outline) to anchor the law in historical legitimacy.
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