In today’s talking points: Thai company saves Tasmanian milk plant; MLA aiming to make the red meat industry carbon neutral by 2030; Farming festival lifts village out of poverty; Demand for durian fruit increases in China
Thai company saves Tasmanian milk plant
A Thai company has bought a Tasmanian milk processing facility in an 11th-hour deal. Just 24 hours before Murray Goulburn’s Edith Creek plant was to close, there was an announcement it had been sold to Dutch Mill, a Thai company with an Australian subsidiary. The facility is set to re-open in the second quarter of 2018, a spokesman for Dutch Mill Australia told the ABC. “What is important to us is engaging with the community in that three-month period and talking to them about milk supply … about employment and that’s obviously very much in the minds of those out of work as of tomorrow,” he said.
Read more at: ABC
MLA aiming to make the red meat industry carbon neutral by 2030
Australia’s red meat marketing agency, Meat and Livestock Australia, wants to turn the industry carbon neutral by 2030, amid a greater focus on environmental sustainability. If successful, Australia would be the first beef and sheep meat-exporting country to achieve that feat. The goal was flagged at MLA’s annual general meeting, with managing director Richard Norton saying the red meat industry needed to keep focused on the consumer expectations and wishes. “Is this the start of a new era of meat production where we will start seeing companies advertising their burgers as having no environmental footprint?,” he asked. “The fact is that market signals in our high value international markets are telling us that our carbon footprint and emissions from livestock production are an issue.”
Read more at: Farm Weekly
Farming festival lifts village out of poverty
The mud wash spree festival is a farming celebration by the Yao ethnic group. The festival showcases the culture of the Goulanyao village in Hunan. Villagers perform local customs such as dragon and lion dances, playing the suona and singing songs, which attract tourists to the area. This festival has improved the local economy significantly by creating jobs for villagers in areas such as entertainment, accommodations and tour bus services. The tourism has improved villagers’ per capita income by 2,600 yuan, helping 584 poor individuals to lift themselves out of poverty.
Read more at: China Daily
Demand for durian fruit increases in China
China’s love of the ‘King of fruits’, the Durian fruit, has seen value of the pungent fruit increase by an average 26% a year over the last decade. In China, consumers are embracing different foods, as markets open up and incorporating the tropical fruit into their daily diet. However, Malaysia’s 45,500 durian farmers are currently locked out of the Chinese market for whole, fresh durians and instead rely on exports of the pulp.
Read more at: Today Online