Food processing alliance opens annual meeting

The first annual meeting of the National Staple Food Processing Industry Scientific and Technological Innovation Alliance took place at Youyi Palace, Harbin on Oct 25.

Established in Harbin during July 2016, the alliance is a food technology research and commercialization platform under the guidance of the Bureau of Produce Processing (affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture), which provides technical guidance, business incubation services and consultation services for businesses in the staple food processing sector.

Some 500 scientific research personnel and business representatives attended this year’s annual meeting.

Zhang Hong, a researcher from the Bureau of Produce Processing delivered an annual work report at the meeting.

“The food processing industry in Harbin has made much progress with the help of the alliance,” said Zhang Wanping, vice-mayor of Harbin, at the opening ceremony.

Zhang revealed that there are 652 large food processing businesses in Harbin, and the annual revenues of the businesses have hit 130 billion yuan ($19.54 billion). Zhang also mentioned that 64 percent of the agricultural products produced in the city have been processed before being put on the market.

Additionally, the organic food industry has become one of the four pillar industries in Harbin, with an annual output value of 150 billion yuan.

On the same day, attendees paid a visit to Harbin’s food processing businesses, including Harbin Laodingfeng Food Co, Heilongjiang Jiamingjia Nutritious Food Co and Heilongjiang Longdan Dairy Technology Co.

The annual meeting is expected to serve as a platform for promoting Harbin’s food processing industry, as well as boosting technological communications.