China has pledged to significantly improve logistics and promote the use of technology in its grain production industry by 2015 as part of efforts to ensure food security, said Nie Zhenbang, head of the State Administration of Grain.

Major inter-provincial transportation will be upgraded and grain storage capacity will grow 20m tons over the next five years through the building of new depots in major grain production bases, and the country’s western region. Xinhua quoted Mr Nie saying that open-air depots will be phased out, while others will be renovated.