The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) was a cabinet-level executive department of the State Council which was responsible for agriculture in China. Areas of the ministry's responsibility included agriculture and environmental issues relating to agriculture, fishery, consumer affairs, animal husbandry, horticulture, animal welfare, foodstuffs, hunting and game management as well as higher education and research in the field of agricultural sciences. The ministry was headquartered in Beijing. The ministry was abolished in 2018, with its responsibilities being assumed by the newly created Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on March 19, 2018.

History

In 2007, the MOA issued a regulation on the protection of agricultural geographical indication products. These are defined as including plants, animals, and microorganisms. In 2015, the MOA issued the Strategic Plan for Agricultural Going Out, providing state subsidies to enterprises that invested in various overseas locations. In 2015, the MOA announced a zero-growth plan by 2020 for the use of chemical fertilizers. In 2016, MOA and Alibaba Group signed an agreement to promote rural e-commerce development. Its responsibilities were assumed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on March 19, 2018.

List of Agriculture Ministers