Harbin is set to become a key city in the Chinese government’s strategy to ensure food security, according to a meeting held by the municipal government on Nov 23.

The meeting discussed targets set out in a plan on food security which will be gradually met over the next two years, according to discussions held at the meeting.

In the second half of 2018, the application for building Harbin into a key city for the food security strategy will be submitted to the State Council for approval.

The meeting called for attaching great importance to the transformation and upgrading of agriculture. Information technologies such as the internet, big data and cloud computing will be utilized in order to meet the food security aims.

Strict measures will also be taken to control and regulate the use of banned pesticides, veterinary drugs and antibiotics, according to the meeting.

On May 4, the State Council issued a circular to include Harbin into the third batch of pilot projects for improving food safety across the country.

The Harbin Food Safety Committee has formulated a plan as part of the city’s food security projects.

These projects are related to the improvement of food safety regulations, risk prevention and control, as well as the management of street vendors and workshops.