The Sustainable Agricultural Food Circulation (SAFE) Project is jointly implemented by the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, the China Chain Store & Franchise Association (CCFA), and the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development (IAED) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Supported by the European Union’s Switch-Asia program for sustainable production and consumption, the project runs from March 2022 to September 2025.

The overall goals of the SAFE Project are to: Optimize and reduce chemical usage in fruit and vegetable cultivation. Promote standardized production and quality management.

Expand the adoption of Foldable and Reusable Plastic Crates (FVRPCs) in logistics to:

1) Enhance food safety management; 2) Improve product quality; 3) Reduce disposable packaging waste; 4)Increase logistics efficiency.

In its second year, the project prioritized reducing food waste, minimizing packaging waste, reducing pesticide and fertilizer use, and improving supply chain efficiency and food safety to support China’s agricultural modernization.

IVL is emphasizing the expansion of FVRPC adoption, based on life-cycle economic and environmental analyses to evaluate the cost and sustainability advantages of reusable crates in China’s produce supply chains. With increasing global food demand, sustainable production and distribution are essential. By substituting single-use packaging with reusable crates, the project seeks to lower resource and energy use, speeding up the shift toward a sustainable agri-food system.

01 Project Progress

Farm Visits and Expanded Training

A key milestone in Year 2 was broadening training for smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and supply chain stakeholders on: Food safety, Sustainable farm management, Green production techniques, and Logistics procurement standards. By March 2025, the project had trained 8,472 farmers and 1,717 cooperative representatives across 20 provinces, awarded certifications to participants, and recognized hundreds of cooperatives for compliance with food safety standards.

Deepening the Demonstration of FVRPCs

The SAFE Project’s core initiative is demonstrating FVRPCs in fruit and vegetable supply chains. IVL partnered with retailers and cooperatives to launch pilot programs in Guangdong and Jinan, based on Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life-Cycle Costing (LCC) models developed in 2023, and IVL's expert team developed a localized scenario model for China's agricultural supply chain in 2024. 

Field data demonstrates FVRPCs' superior economic and environmental performance compared to single-use packaging. Through multi-stakeholder analysis involving distribution centers, farmers, and other actors, the project has identified key barriers and enablers for large-scale FVRPC adoption, providing evidence-based insights for future policy formulation and business model optimization.

Policy Advocacy and International Exchange
The SAFE Project actively promotes FVRPC adoption through policy instruments. This includes completing two research reports and conducting a European study tour to examine agricultural policies and supply chain management practices in the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, and France. These international benchmarks have informed recommendations for innovating China's sustainable agriculture policies.

Knowledge Dissemination and Technical Exchange
The project has showcased best practices through national industry forums, media campaigns, and special events. In the first half of 2024, IVL convened two technical workshops engaging academics, distributors, and retailers to: Validate and refine LCA and LCC methodologies, discuss preliminary pilot outcomes. Additionally, policy dialogues on pesticide and fertilizer reduction were held to share findings with government agencies and industry associations.

02 Project Highlights

(1) Global Cooperation and Policy Exchange: The research team conducted an in-depth analysis of European agricultural standards, examining best practices for sustainable development through reducing pesticide and fertilizer use, minimizing food loss, and optimizing supply chain management.

(2) Innovative Application of Life Cycle Methodology: By developing and implementing LCA and LCC models to conduct comprehensive economic and environmental evaluations of pilot projects, delivering science-based evidence for the industry.

(3) Project Display and Public Awareness: The SAFE Project made its debut at the China Retail Expo in Shanghai, presenting its background, objectives, and achievements to industry stakeholders and consumers.

(4) Media Coverage: Many mainstream media outlets, like China Development Observation, produced in-depth reports on the project, amplifying its impact.

03 Future Plans

SAFE will expand and strengthen its partnership networks with more retailers, supply chain actors, obtain support from the government and industry associations, and launch new FVRPC pilots in more provinces. In the second half of 2024, SAFE plans to host sustainable agriculture workshops in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing. Further enhance data transparency and standardization for sustainable farming guidelines.

Guo Qinhua, SAFE Project Coordinator:
" Over the past three years, the SAFE Project has remained focused on its mission to enhance food safety and quality standards for agricultural products. Through grassroots engagement and systematic training programs for cooperatives and smallholder farmers, we have consistently empowered rural communities by improving standardization and normalization practices across production, processing, and distribution chains.

The project actively bridges the gap between high-quality agricultural producers and retail enterprises, facilitating direct farm-to-market linkages to truly connect "field to fork." Special emphasis has been placed on supporting underdeveloped regions, including ethnic minority areas, through agricultural modernization initiatives. We actively promote women’s participation in farming and agribusiness, strengthening their employment and income opportunities within local value chains. These efforts not only bolster income generation for farmers, particularly vulnerable groups, but also inject momentum into building a green, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural circulation system."

Gao Si, IVL China Chief Representative:
"Through the application of LCA and LCC models, the SAFE Project has evaluated the impacts of reducing food waste and packaging waste from dual perspectives: scientific rigor and economic viability. These analyses have provided critical technical support for scaling up the project’s initiatives. We are committed to advancing continuous technological innovation and international collaboration to introduce more sustainable agricultural solutions to China, generating greater environmental and social value."

The SAFE Project is driving China’s agriculture toward sustainability, aligning with global development goals while delivering economic, environmental, and social impact.