China's interest in Australian Agriculture is positive for Queensland

China's interest in Australian Agriculture is positive for Queensland  

THE Southern Hemisphere's Largest Abattoirs-Meat Processing Plant - JBS at Dinmore south west of Brisbane recently hosted China's Agriculture Minister Han Changfu who visited after being invited by Australian Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig.

Speaking through an interpreter, Minister Han said: I'm very happy to have the opportunity to pay a visit to this facility at the invitation of Minister Ludwig" - "Though my visit is very short, I would very much like to see this relationship bear fruit, he said - "In China we have a saying, 'See is believing' and that's why I travelled all these miles to see this company."

JBS chief executive Brent Eastwood said Australia's beef exports to China were big and getting bigger.

For 2010-11 it was 7378 tonnes, up to 18,865 tonnes for 2011-12. Already since last November, 44,258 tonnes of beef has been shipped to China.

JBS' best market was Japan followed by the US, Korea and domestic but at this rate of growth, China would quickly become a major trading partner.

The clean green image Australia had in animal production processing and food safety was very attractive, and if Australia concentrates on it's agricultural industry we could have a very bright future utilising our food bowl...