Forest food industry takes root under China's canopy

China's forest food production has surpassed 200 million metric tons — about 140 kilograms per person — annually, making it the nation's third-largest agricultural product after grains and vegetables, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration said on Friday.

The country's forest food production capacity is growing, with 46.7 million hectares dedicated to economic forest plantations and over 40 million hectares of forest land used for understory industries, according to Wang Junzhong, director of the administration's reform and development department.

"This enhances the stability of China's food supply and provides a strong foundation for food security," Wang said.