Sustainable Podcast: Ruoyan Li of Chengdu Newsun Delves Into China’s Sustainable Agriculture Sector
23 April 2026 In this Sustainable Podcast episode by AgriBusiness Global, Ruoyan Li, Director of Strategy & Development at Chengdu Newsun Crop Science Co., Ltd., digs into changes within China to promote sustainable agriculture, roadblocks for Chinese growers’ adoption of biological products, how to overcome these challenges, and more.
*This is an edited and partial transcript
AgriBusiness Global: Can you talk about some of the current changes the Chinese government and growers are making to promote and adopt sustainable agriculture?
Ruoyan Li: In China, the promotion of sustainable agriculture is driven by a well-collected ecosystem involving policy, capital, industrial development, and grower practices.
First, the government provides strong policy guidance and has established significant state-backed capital into the sector. This supports enterprises in increasing R&D investment, accelerating innovation in biological technologies, and delivering more effective and practical products that truly meet farmers’ needs.
Meanwhile, China is actively promoting intensive and large-scale farming. Although smallholder farmers still account for the majority, central state-owned enterprises are playing a leading role in advancing standardized large-scale operations. These modern farming models tend to pay far more attention to sustainability and environmental health, which further boosts the adoption of biological solutions.
Against this backdrop, we have seen a clear shift among growers, moving from passive acceptance to active adoption because issues such as pesticide resistance from overuse of traditional chemicals have encouraged some farmers to proactively seek more sustainable alternatives
Others are attracted by the yield- and nutrient-enhancing benefits of biological solutions, such as biostimulants and bio-PGRs. However, the adoption of biological products is largely concentrated in high-value crops.
In short, policy sets the direction, capital, and intensive farming drive industrial upgrading. Enterprise provides effective products, and growers choose proactively based on real demand. Together, they form a powerful force for sustainable agriculture.
ABG: Is there any legislation from the Chinese government that’s also helping to promote sustainable agriculture?
RL: Yes, we do have some supportive policies and financial incentives, but many at the local level. In some cities or regions, farmers who adopt green and sustainable practices can receive subsidies. These subsidies improve economic viability and encourage wider adoption. To drive effective implementation, the government heavily relies on demonstration programs, field trials, and high-standard farmland projects.
ABG: What are some of the roadblocks for Chinese growers’ adoption of biological products?
RL: In China, the main challenge are the smallholder farm structure and the cost perception. Many growers are used to conventional chemical solutions, and adopting biologicals requires changing the way they manage crops.
Farms tend to be small and fragmented. Infrastructure and technical support can be limiting, and some growers focus on short-term returns and may not fully recognize the benefits of sustainability. That’s why demonstrations and hands-on guidance are key to adoption.
ABG: Are you finding any other roadblocks when entering other markets, like the U.S., EU, or Brazil?
RL: Most roadblocks are about the regulations and trust. Each country has a different approval process, some of which take a long time. Even after registration, the growers want to see products performed locally.
ABG: Do you have any advice for other companies looking to have a similar strategy to Chengdu Newsun?
RL: Strategies should be technology driven. Work with local partners … someone who shares the same vision and same mission with you, and then you can promote the solutions together.
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