Special Supplement: Green food becomes economic pillar

Located in the cold temperate zone, and boasting excellent light, heat, soil and water conditions, Heilongjiang has a suitable environment and other advantages for the development of the green food industry.

In recent years, the green food industry has become a sunrise industry with major economic and developmental potential for Heilongjiang.

Heilongjiang has made great efforts to develop an ecologically friendly agriculture industry.

In terms of fundraising, the province encourages Chinese social investment bodies and foreign investors to invest in the construction of ecologically friendly agriculture.

In addition, the province will strengthen the introduction and absorption of foreign agricultural technologies, encourage exports of green food products, and promote international cooperation and exchange in the field of ecologically friendly agriculture.

To transform Heilongjiang to a strong agricultural province, the province's agricultural product processing industry has developed quickly in recent years.

In the process of revitalizing the old industrial base, Heilongjiang pushed forward the optimization and upgrade of industrial structure in an all-round way, giving a priority to developing the green food industry.

Heilongjiang will use its ecological resources to speed up the green food industry upgrade, strengthen the development of the agricultural products processing industry, extend the industry chain and improve product structure.

Achievements

Heilongjiang's green food industry has made great strides in the last five years.

By the end of 2004, the province's green food planting area reached 1.57 million hectares, with total output hitting 11.10 million tons, and total output value amounting to 32.7 billion yuan, increasing 7.1 times, 9.5 times and 8 times respectively from 1999. Green food industry has become an important part of Heilongjiang.

The backbone green food enterprises are also playing an increasingly important role in Heilongjiang's economic layout.

At present, 36 enterprises have an output value of more than 100 million yuan each, including five enterprises with an output value of more than 1 billion yuan. Their total processing volume of green food products reached 4.68 million tons, with a combined output value of 13.2 billion yuan, an increase of 5.8 times and 10.9 times 1999 figures.

Heilongjiang will map out higher standards for and enhance supervision of the green food industry, especially in the fields of organic and pollution-free products.

The province will help foster famous green food brands, through expanding the production scale of existing enterprises and launching more promotional activities at home and abroad.

(China Daily 09/05/2007 page11)