Published by ChinaMNC · Jiangyuan

Jilin Province Issues Measures to Support Comprehensive Straw Utilization: What Foreign Founders Should Know

Jilin Provincial Government has released new measures supporting comprehensive straw utilization, covering burning controls, subsidies for straw return to fields, collection and storage infrastructure, and industrial projects. Here is a practical overview for foreign founders operating or investing in agriculture and bio-based industries in the province.

Overview of the New Policy

The General Office of the Jilin Provincial People's Government has issued a notice on measures to support comprehensive straw utilization, published on August 25, 2026, with a document number of Ji Zheng Ban Gui [2026] No. 1 and dated August 15, 2026. The measures are addressed to municipal and county governments, the Changbai Mountain management committee, provincial departments, and relevant centrally located units in the province. The policy states that its purpose is to implement ecological civilization principles, address issues identified in central ecological and environmental protection inspections, accelerate development of the straw industry, and strengthen long-term mechanisms for comprehensive utilization.

For foreign founders, the document is relevant if you are considering agricultural processing, bio-based materials, feed production, biomass energy, or related supply chain projects in Jilin. It sets out subsidy categories, infrastructure support, and regulatory boundaries that may affect project planning and local partnerships.

Burning Controls and Zoning

The measures designate prohibited burning zones across the province. These include areas within one kilometer of railways, expressways, national and provincial roads and airports, areas within 50 meters of forest edges, and conservation tillage plots. County governments are to delineate conservation tillage plots each year, with dynamic adjustments permitted. Open burning of straw is fully prohibited in these zones; other areas are classified as restricted burning zones where controlled burning is managed in an orderly manner. The provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, together with relevant departments, is to complete a unified map of prohibited burning zones and integrate it into a provincial straw burning supervision platform, while advancing related local regulations. Local ecological and environmental departments are to strengthen supervision, and municipal and county governments bear primary responsibility for straw burning control.

Subsidies for Straw Return to Fields and Soil Protection

Several measures focus on returning straw to fields and protecting black soil. In typical black soil counties, projects for black land protection and utilization are supported. Where organic fertilizer produced from straw and other materials is applied, subsidies are set at no less than 150 yuan per mu, based on annual task areas determined by the province.

For conservation tillage projects, support is increased for higher straw coverage. Where straw coverage exceeds 60 percent, the subsidy ceiling rises to 80 yuan per mu. If one of strip tillage, rake mixing, or deep loosening is also carried out, an additional 25 yuan per mu is added, raising the ceiling to 105 yuan per mu. Province-wide, subsidies for straw coverage below 30 percent are eliminated, and burnt plots are not subsidized after verification.

Counties with large straw resources may use funds including 20 percent of central awards for super grain-producing counties, comprehensive straw utilization funds, and provincial project funds for straw return operations. For autumn operations such as full straw return through corn deep plowing or crushing and mixing, or rice paddy mud mixing and dry leveling without water harrowing, the subsidy is 80 yuan per mu.

Collection, Storage, and Processing Infrastructure

County governments are to organize orderly removal of straw from fields, except for plots used for conservation tillage, strip tillage, deep plowing, crushing and mixing, or burying. For sloping and hilly land where mechanical removal is not feasible, manual removal is to be used. The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs is to strengthen guidance on straw removal in prohibited and restricted burning zones, support baling and transport, reduce farmers' removal costs, and improve collection efficiency.

Counties with large straw resources may use comprehensive straw utilization funds to build county-level collection, storage, and processing centers, township transfer stations, and village-level temporary storage points, following the provincial guidelines for distributed straw collection, storage, and processing centers. Entities implementing projects with large straw consumption, such as green hydrogen, green methanol, feed, biomass cogeneration, environmentally friendly panels, carbon-based products, and polylactic acid, are supported in building supporting straw collection and processing centers. Construction entities must improve protective measures and implement safety management responsibilities.

Feed, Substrate, and Industrial Utilization

Counties may use funds from comprehensive straw utilization, grain-producing county, cattle and sheep exporting county, and grassland ecological protection subsidy programs to support feed utilization. For single households collecting, storing, and processing more than 100 tons of yellow silage fermented feed or ruminant compound feed, the subsidy is 35 yuan per ton of straw. For new, renovated, or expanded yellow or green silage pits of more than 500 cubic meters, the subsidy is 30 yuan per cubic meter.

Counties with large straw resources may also use comprehensive straw utilization funds for substrate utilization. Where straw is used to produce substrates for edible fungi, rice, or horticultural crops, the subsidy is 60 yuan per ton of straw. Counties may also coordinate regular assistance funds to plan industrial straw utilization projects that align with fund usage directions and are closely linked to the interests of people at risk of returning to poverty.

Provincial departments, including the Development and Reform Commission, the Department of Industry and Information Technology, and the Energy Bureau, are to guide localities in planning and reserving projects in line with central budget investment directions. These include green hydrogen, green methanol, biomass cogeneration, biodegradable new materials, environmentally friendly panels, carbon-based products, and polylactic acid. The aim is to seek central budget investment support, and the provincial government investment fund is to enhance its role in financing straw utilization projects.

Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders

• Check zoning early: Project sites near transport corridors, airports, forest edges, or conservation tillage plots fall within prohibited burning zones, which affects raw material handling and waste management planning.
• Map subsidy eligibility: Subsidy levels depend on operation type, straw coverage, scale thresholds, and county-level fund arrangements. Confirm details with local agriculture and rural affairs departments.
• Consider infrastructure support: Projects with high straw consumption may qualify for support in building collection and processing centers, subject to provincial guidelines and safety requirements.
• Monitor fund channels: Different measures rely on different funding sources, including central awards, provincial project funds, and assistance funds, each with its own usage directions.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.