Revamped animal feed formulas to reduce reliance on imports

Steps being taken to ramp up domestic production to ensure food security

Authorities are working to revamp animal feed formulas with an aim to curb the use of soybean meal, a byproduct of soybean oil extraction.

The move is part of a broader effort by China to wean itself off imported soybeans.

The nation's soybean imports jumped 11.4 percent last year to almost 100 million metric tons despite recent efforts to expand domestic production, Chen Bangxun, who oversees agricultural planning at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said on Tuesday.