Demand for organic produce in Shanghai is on the rise following the recent melamine scare, prompting public and private investment organic production, reports Channel News Asia (CNA) online.
More Chinese consumers are seeking “safe” food products in the form of organic items, the report said. And these food safety concerns have triggered a move to develop the country's emerging organic agriculture industry.
Some 2m ha of farmland in China are currently undergoing organic cultivation, CNA reports, and more organic farms are springing up around Shanghai. Products will be certified by China’s Organic Food Development Centre, CNA said.
Shanghai Organics, which runs the two largest organic farms in China, told CNA that it has expanded its product range in response to consumer demand in the wake of the melamine scare. Meanwhile, Shanghai restaurants have increased their organic offer since the scandal.
In a separate development, China Organic Agriculture has named veteran financial executive Weihong Xia as its new chief financial officer, according to Freshplaza.com
'In a Chinese company, particularly one traded on a US Exchange, the role of CFO is critical,' Jinsong Li, China Organic Agriculture's chief executive officer is quoted as saying. 'Mr Xia's extensive experience over the past 16 years in the areas of international finance, compliance and business strategy will benefit CNOA and its investors immensely.'
Mr Xia replaces Xuefeng Guo, who has left the company to seek other opportunities, the report said.
China Organic Agriculture is a high growth international food products company capitalising on China's burgeoning domestic demand for premium products due to an expanding class of consumers with the ability to acquire premium food products, according to Freshplaza
The Company has developed an extensive distribution network throughout China including Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing.
