In today’s talking points: Australian Beef in China Increasing; Use of Internet in Branding Chinese Agricultural Products; Fished out to Fresh Again, the Angasi Oyster Returns; Underwater Robots to Boost the Maritime Economy in China
Australian Beef in China Increasing
China is expected to import more beef from Australia in the coming months and years as a result of the bilateral trade agreement signed between Australia and China in March 2017. This trade agreement, signed during premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Australia earlier this year, is expected to increase Australian beef import value from Australia to China by $400 million per annum by allowing Australia to have complete market access to supply chilled or fresh meat to China. This is welcome news to Australian beef farmers since the market share of Australian beef in China has dropped from 52% in 2013 to 34% in 2015, with general manager of Meat and Livestock Australia, Michael Finucan, describing it as the “biggest opportunity.” Furthermore, this trade agreement, which has already been touted as a “platform to open up access” will provide Australian beef exporters with a competitive advantage over the growing competition from market entrants such as Brazil and New Zealand.
Read more at China Daily
Use of Internet in Branding Chinese Agricultural Products
Chinese farmers should view product promotion through the lens of “Internet Plus. “Innovation has always been key in brand-building. China is the world’s largest consumer of meat and crops, with an annual consumption of 50 kilograms and 450 kilograms per capita respectively. It is time that Chinese farmers promote their brand overseas, which was said at a conference on agricultural branding in Linyi, Shandong province. The conference was held by the Linyi government and the People’s Tribune on April 12. Its theme was the proposal made by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015 to strengthen brand-building for agricultural products. In the cofference, it was pointed out that it remains difficult to sell many Chinese agricultural products at high prices, even though they are equal in quality to their overseas counterparts. With the help of the internet, some less developed regions have become known in other regions, and business deals have been made. This pattern could promote basic infrastructure construction.
Read more at China Daily
Fished out to Fresh Again, the Angasi Oyster Returns
A new Australian oyster market is getting ready to yield their second commercial crop. Once harvested to the brink of extinction by early colonial settlers, parliamentary records exposed that more than 22 million oysters were gathered around Tasmania in the 1860s. Growers and hatcheries today are showing immense interest to produce this returning variety, among the Pacific and Sydney Rock varieties. This unique Angasi flavour will take a little time to adapt to commercial production, however this is predicted to make them higher in value and increase returns, confirms forefront oyster farmer of 40 years David Maidment.
Read more at ABC
Underwater Robots to Boost the Maritime Economy in China
Expecting to soon take the place of divers, a prominent Chinese fishery company Zoneco Group Co Ltd in conjunction with Dalian University of Technology have developed underwater robots to catch precious seafood. These robots will assist in reducing risks and costs with the abilities of flexibility and with the efficiency of experienced divers’ marvels Wu Hougang, president of Zoneco Group Co Ltd. These new innovative machines will focus on tasks such as environmental perception, underwater observation and ecological monitoring. Guo Dongming, president of the Dalian University of Technology, says the cooperation will stimulate industrial advancement through new technology, with Zoneco providing 300,000 yuan ($43,480) annually to labs.
Read more at ECNS