Research stay in Fujian, China

As part of a two-week research stay in China, Tim Becker and Sebastian Losacker examined current developments in the bamboo industry in the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian.

Following a short stay in Shanghai, which served for academic exchange with TRABBI visiting scholar Prof. Dr. Yongmin Shang as well as other research partners at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS), Tim Becker and Sebastian Losacker traveled to Fujian for field research together with Prof. Dr. Qiuyu Wang and student assistant Yuezhi Ding (both SASS).

Fujian is one of the world’s most important bamboo regions. The province has a highly developed value chain and is considered the origin of engineered bamboo. Numerous leading companies are based here, producing for both the Chinese and international markets. In recent years, the industry has experienced significant growth driven by political initiatives such as “Bamboo to Replace Plastic,” as well as complementary regional support measures.

On site, the researchers conducted expert interviews with various stakeholders. These discussions provided valuable insights into current developments, challenges, and industrial policy dynamics, as well as into the active role of regional actors in their implementation.

In addition, several production facilities were visited, offering direct insight into the manufacturing of bamboo construction materials and providing a solid understanding of production processes as well as current challenges. These impressions were complemented by visits to innovative construction projects, including the “Songci Service Area,” a highway service station on the Wusha Expressway in Nanping (Fujian), which is considered the world’s largest structure made of engineered bamboo.

Interregional linkages were also a focus of the analysis: neighboring provinces such as Zhejiang and Jiangxi are closely integrated into the value chain structures and often source semi-processed materials from Fujian. During a two-day stay in Jiangxi, the team examined these connections and the complementary development dynamics in greater detail. 

Overall, the research stay provided comprehensive insights into the dynamic development of the bamboo industry in Fujian and highlighted the close interplay between national strategies and regional implementation.