CHINA’S AGRICULTURAL ENGAGEMENT IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST. FOOD SECURITY AND GEOPOLITICAL IMPLICATIONS

This article examines Chinese agribusiness activity in the Russian Far East in the context of food security in China and Russia following COVID-19 (2020) and the Ukrain Crisis (2022), both of which disrupted global food supply chains, particularly for corn, soy, and grain. After Russia’s Special Military Operation in Ukraine, China resumed food imports from the U.S. to offset the loss of Ukrainian supplies, while demand for Russian agricultural products surged in China, the Middle East, and Central Asia. The Russian Far East, with its geographic proximity and logistical advantages, gained strategic importance in this context. Drawing on field research conducted in Primorsky Krai, Amur Oblast, and the Jewish Autonomous Oblast (2014–2019, 2022–2023), this study assesses the risks and opportunities of Chinese agribusiness in the region for Russia. Findings indicate that production capacity and infrastructure limitations prevent the Russian Far East from fully substituting for Ukrainian corn or American soy in the Chinese market. However, the region’s advantages—shorter supply routes and favorable conditions for GMO-free soybeans and rice—reinforce its role in China’s premium food supply. For Russia, growing Chinese demand for crops supports regional economic development, though investment in dairy and meat industries remains crucial for national food security. Given China’s strategic focus on food security, agricultural cooperation enhances cross-border economic ties and fosters deeper collaboration between Russian and Chinese agribusinesses, ultimately strengthening bilateral economic relations and regional prosperity in the Russian Far East.

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