Page 4 - SCBJ-201606
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South China Business Journal
LEADERSHIP Dragon Boat Festival has arrived along with 粽子
(zòngzi) sticky rice dumplings. The importance of food
in society is poetically described by the Chinese proverb 民以 outside of Nanning. These visits allowed us to share ideas and
食为天 (mín yǐ shí wéi tiān), or “Food is of utmost importance confirmed that demand for U.S. agricultural products is still
to the people.” But China’s aging population, rapid economic rising.
development, and increasing environmental pressures are
forcing the agricultural sector to produce higher yields with China’s demographic trends and climate change present new
fewer resources. Food imports to South China continue opportunities for biotech solutions and bilateral cooperation.
to grow. U.S.-China agricultural trade benefits Chinese U.S.-China collaboration to streamline the approval process
consumers and U.S.-China collaboration on a streamlined for agricultural biotechnology products will help mitigate these
biotechnology approval process can help Chinese farmers and pressures. Last year, at the Joint Commission on Commerce
businesses meet public demand despite current challenges. and Trade, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and
his Chinese counterparts reaffirmed the importance of
China imported $26.6 billion of U.S. agricultural products in implementing timely, transparent, predictable and science-
2015. Of that amount, 32% came through South China, up from based approval processes for agricultural biotechnology
24% in 2011. Additionally, South China accounts for nearly products, based on international standards. Progress on these
70% of U.S. fresh fruit imported into China. South China’s issues is paramount to helping Chinese agricultural industry
importance as an agricultural trade hub was already apparent meet present and future challenges.
back in 1985 when we opened the first China-based United
States Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) here in Guangzhou. During ancient times, Dragon Boat Festival was the time to
Since then, ATO has engaged with Chinese companies to help plant rice. I know that our future harvests will be greater if we
them meet Chinese consumer demand for U.S. agricultural work together.
products. Two months ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Chief Economist Robert Johansson visited a tilapia farm, a Happy Dragon Boat Festival!
denim manufacturer, and a soybean crushing plant. I recently
visited the largest pork processing plant in South China, just
Charles Bennett
Consul General
Consulate General of the United States of America
Guangzhou, China
2
LEADERSHIP Dragon Boat Festival has arrived along with 粽子
(zòngzi) sticky rice dumplings. The importance of food
in society is poetically described by the Chinese proverb 民以 outside of Nanning. These visits allowed us to share ideas and
食为天 (mín yǐ shí wéi tiān), or “Food is of utmost importance confirmed that demand for U.S. agricultural products is still
to the people.” But China’s aging population, rapid economic rising.
development, and increasing environmental pressures are
forcing the agricultural sector to produce higher yields with China’s demographic trends and climate change present new
fewer resources. Food imports to South China continue opportunities for biotech solutions and bilateral cooperation.
to grow. U.S.-China agricultural trade benefits Chinese U.S.-China collaboration to streamline the approval process
consumers and U.S.-China collaboration on a streamlined for agricultural biotechnology products will help mitigate these
biotechnology approval process can help Chinese farmers and pressures. Last year, at the Joint Commission on Commerce
businesses meet public demand despite current challenges. and Trade, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and
his Chinese counterparts reaffirmed the importance of
China imported $26.6 billion of U.S. agricultural products in implementing timely, transparent, predictable and science-
2015. Of that amount, 32% came through South China, up from based approval processes for agricultural biotechnology
24% in 2011. Additionally, South China accounts for nearly products, based on international standards. Progress on these
70% of U.S. fresh fruit imported into China. South China’s issues is paramount to helping Chinese agricultural industry
importance as an agricultural trade hub was already apparent meet present and future challenges.
back in 1985 when we opened the first China-based United
States Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) here in Guangzhou. During ancient times, Dragon Boat Festival was the time to
Since then, ATO has engaged with Chinese companies to help plant rice. I know that our future harvests will be greater if we
them meet Chinese consumer demand for U.S. agricultural work together.
products. Two months ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Chief Economist Robert Johansson visited a tilapia farm, a Happy Dragon Boat Festival!
denim manufacturer, and a soybean crushing plant. I recently
visited the largest pork processing plant in South China, just
Charles Bennett
Consul General
Consulate General of the United States of America
Guangzhou, China
2
