South Korea Accept Araucania Beef
CHILE – Following years of intense negotiations, the first shipment of beef has been exported to South Korea from Araucania, sparking debate about future possibilities for the region and country as a whole.After eight years of bargaining a free trade agreement an 80 ton beef consignment has been confirmed by the Agriculture Minister, Luis Mayol, as the first in a commerical undertaking of over 400 tons of beef for 2013.
The news follows considerable efforts from private transport enterprises, the Agriculture and Livestock Management Service (SAG) and the Ministry of Agriculture who all strived to satisfy South Korean requirements.
South Korea, with a consumption of 507,000 tonnes of beef per year, of which 240,000 are imported, is one of the countries with the highest prices for meat products, with Japan reached the highest levels in the world.
Demand for pork is also high which justifies the desire to sell to the Asian market. Minister Mayol stated that pork shipments to South Korea have increase by 200 per cent.
Breeding strategy and artificail insemination are being pushed by the government to maximise national export potential. Small scale agriculture is felt to be an area that can be revolutionised trough the works of Agricultural Development Institute.
A comprehensive network of cooperation is required between producers, scientists and the legislative to make sure the Araucania region develops so it can remain a cornerstone of the country’s development.
The government has expressed satisfaction stating that their policies have come to fruition following the agreement. The administration of President Sebastián Piñera hopes this will leave a legacy of a government that conquered emerging markets as part of industrial development.
TheCattleSite News Desk