Shundi Foods backs regenerative garlic farming in China

Shundi Foods is expanding regenerative agriculture practices across its garlic supply chain in Shandong Province, where much of China’s garlic is grown. The effort targets soil degradation, fertilizer inefficiency and farm productivity as the company looks to improve long-term supply resilience and sustainability.

Why it matters: - China produces more than 70% of the world’s garlic, and Shandong Province is a major growing hub for domestic and export markets. - Long-term intensive cultivation, heavy fertilizer use and limited crop rotation have increased soil degradation, weakened nutrient efficiency and hurt farm productivity in the region. - Shundi Foods’ program aims to improve soil health, support farmers’ livelihoods and reduce environmental impact across a critical ingredient supply chain.

What happened: - Shundi Foods said it is investing in regenerative agriculture across its garlic supply chain in China. - The company is giving farmers technical guidance, agricultural inputs and field-level support to help them adopt regenerative practices. - The effort focuses on garlic growers in Shandong Province, a key production area.

The details: - Participating farmers are using organic fertilizer to reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers. - The program includes 4R nutrient management training, which teaches the right source, rate, timing and placement of nutrients. - Farmers are also being supported with organic and biodegradable mulches to reduce reliance on conventional plastic film. - Agronomy experts tailor the practices to local growing conditions. - The goal is to improve long-term soil health, optimize water use and support biodiversity. - The initiative also provides on-the-ground agronomic guidance, regular follow-up field visits and calculation tools for plot-specific decisions. - The project encourages peer-to-peer exchange and collective training so farmers can share insights and best practices. - Shundi Foods said the learning networks are designed to spread sustainable methods more broadly across local communities.

Between the lines: - The effort signals a shift from input-heavy farming toward a more data-driven and soil-focused model. - The project is also a supply-chain strategy, since healthier soils and better nutrient management can help stabilize long-term ingredient sourcing. - Monitoring the program through measurable indicators makes the initiative easier to track under commercial conditions. - Key performance indicators include greenhouse gas emissions per unit of production, land under regenerative agriculture management, fertilizer use efficiency, crop productivity and soil organic matter.

What's next: - Shundi Foods said ongoing monitoring will be used to assess results and guide future improvements. - The company expects the program to support wider adoption of sustainable farming methods if participating farmers see tangible benefits. - Vice President Aaron Zang said the company aims to reduce reliance on agricultural chemicals, restore soil health and balance environmental protection with industry development. - The company says the effort is intended to create long-term value for farmers, the environment and the food industry.

The bottom line: - Shundi Foods is using regenerative agriculture to protect a key garlic supply base while pushing for more resilient and sustainable ingredient production.