China's Belt and Road Initiative-A Changing Global Landscape for Agricultural and Food Business Development

China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), initiated in 2013 by President Xi Jinping, provides the framework for a massive global infrastructure development program that is mainly focused on developing supply routes in Asia and Africa. Development of land transportation westward from China will enable export and import across Central Asia and to and from Europe. New shipping developments (the Maritime Silk Road), including port expansions and construction of logistics hubs, are opening up new markets, for example, in the Horn of Africa. Understanding the scope and scale of the BRI can help companies across the globe identify potential new business opportunities. New cost-effective supply chains will also enable rapid and safe movement of high-quality agricultural products and processed foods. Hence, agro-food companies of all types will well placed to benefit from this initiative. This brief article outlines some key issues in the origin and implementation of the BRI and discusses benefits and risks.