In the Chinese market, seafood products from Norway are already well-known, but Norway is not satisfied with this.
At present, according to the first financial reporter, Norway has begun to intend to enter China's current hot pork market, hoping to replicate their success in exporting salmon.
Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food Olaug vervik bollestad previously told the first financial reporter that the current production of Norwegian pork exceeds the demand of the local market, and once approved by the Chinese side, Norway intends to immediately provide high-quality Norwegian pork to the Chinese market.
Organic pork
Dagfinn torstveit is a pork farmer from western Norway. In the exchange with the first financial reporter, the frankness and simplicity unique to Nordic farmers came to the face. However, he is not a farmer who has passed middle age, but has a grand goal in his heart, uniting thousands of farmers in the region to produce organic pork, which is directly exported to China, the world's largest pork consumer.
When it comes to the quality of Norwegian pork, Tostevier is always confident. He told the first financial reporter that the pigs they breed can grow freely in Norway's good natural environment, breathe fresh air, rely on their own ability to find food, such as eating grass and blueberries in the forest, only supplemented by artificial feeding of a small amount of grain.
He made a comparison with the first financial reporter, those industrial pigs in captivity, lack of exercise, food sources are mainly based on corn or soybeans. So he proudly introduced to reporters that the pigs he produced were "blueberry pigs", with tight muscles and unique flavors.
He told the first financial reporter that due to the relatively cold natural environment in Norway, pigs are only suitable for dispersion in the summer, "The feeding cycle of Norwegian pigs is generally to release pig seedlings in May, and slaughter when the pigs reach about 100 kilograms in October." ”
He is particularly keen to open up the Chinese market, saying that once the Chinese market is needed, there are thousands of farms in his area that meet the above conditions and can raise this "blueberry pig".
In order to determine whether the pork it produces really meets the appetite of Chinese consumers, he also specially invited the chef who makes Chinese food to taste it, and the chef's positive feedback on the quality of the pork he provides gives him another confidence that his pork can open up the Chinese market.
As one of the countries with the highest price levels in the world, although Norway has a good natural environment to breed "blueberry pigs", will its prices be equally unattainable? In the face of the first financial reporter's questions, Tostevie seemed very indifferent.
He said that the price of pork in Norway is currently similar to that of China, and with other costs such as logistics, he expects that the pork that arrives in the Chinese market will only be slightly higher than the current price in the Chinese market. But given the high quality of Norwegian pork, he believes chinese consumers are also acceptable.
In addition, pigs are not the main domestic animals in Norway, and if more farms in the local area are willing to join in the production after seeing the business opportunities in China, he believes that the cost can be further controlled.
Promoted by the Norwegian government
In early November, Olaug vervik bollestad, Norway's Minister of Agriculture and Food, came to China for the first time, the first time any norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food. In addition to participating in the second China International Import Expo, she also has the important task of connecting Norwegian pork and agricultural products with chinese departments at all levels.
Bolesta told CBN that she met with China Customs Director General Ni Yuefeng in Norway in May to discuss the current problem of China's "African swine fever" affecting pork supply, as well as the provision of high-quality dairy products to China.
According to the website of the Chinese Embassy in Norway, Ni Yuefeng, director of the General Administration of Customs of China, led a delegation to visit Norway from May 20 to 23, and consulted with the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the General Administration of Customs on bilateral mechanized cooperation between China and Norway and the export of relevant food and agricultural products from Norway to China, and signed a series of agreements.
She told the first financial reporter that at present, Norway does not export pork to surrounding Europe and other countries, but Norway's pork production exceeds domestic demand, so once the Chinese side approves, Norway can export Norwegian high-quality pork to China. Bolesta told the first financial reporter that Norwegian pigs rarely use antibiotics and other chemical agents because food safety is Norway's highest priority.
In addition, Norway has successfully established itself in the Chinese market in terms of traditional seafood exports to China. China has become the fastest growing market for Norwegian seafood exports. According to Xinhua News Agency, Norway's Minister of Fisheries and Seafood Neswick said that Norwegian seafood exports to China continued to grow, and as of the end of the third quarter of this year, the total export volume was nearly 112,000 tons, an increase of 14% year-on-year.