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Report: Liz Rodway
In China, snowstorms have destroyed millions of hectares of crops.The unusual weather could prompt China to consider securing food supplies from other countries, including Australia. Some Chinese cities have received their heaviest snow falls in 50 years. It couldn't have come at a worse time as people flock home for the Chinese New Year. It's disrupted shipping and tripled the price of meat and vegetables at an estimated cost to the economy of $7.5 billion dollars. The general manager of Elders China, Tim Leviny lives in Shianghai and says there will be export opportunities for Australia."This time of the year is one of those periods where traditionally the Chinese get together with all their families," he says. "So if you think Christmas time when we're all stocking up food in Australia, that's exactly what they're doing here as well. "The Chinese Government prior to this happening had also tried to anticipate the movement of people for the Chinese New Year and instructed a large number of the cities to increase their food reserves to 10 days supply so while they had some supplies there this weather has exacerbated this problem."Mr Leviny says over the next few weeks as the weather starts to warm up, China will get a better picture of the damage. He believes, in the bigger sense these sorts of shocks are going to have an impact on China's overall ability to have food security and food sustainability. For major exporters like Australia, the opporutnities will be there."In terms of pork, there was a major disease outbreak here call blue-ear and it had substantial impacts on pig animals which unfortuantely succumbed to the disease. "Since then I've seen other countries and other companies opening up supply of pork into China which traditionally has been self sufficient. So if that's an example of the way they're thinking by opening up supply, then the answer is yes," he says.He sees opportunities for pork, other meats and grains to China.
In this report: Tim Leviny, general manager from Elders China
In China, snowstorms have destroyed millions of hectares of crops.The unusual weather could prompt China to consider securing food supplies from other countries, including Australia. Some Chinese cities have received their heaviest snow falls in 50 years. It couldn't have come at a worse time as people flock home for the Chinese New Year. It's disrupted shipping and tripled the price of meat and vegetables at an estimated cost to the economy of $7.5 billion dollars. The general manager of Elders China, Tim Leviny lives in Shianghai and says there will be export opportunities for Australia."This time of the year is one of those periods where traditionally the Chinese get together with all their families," he says. "So if you think Christmas time when we're all stocking up food in Australia, that's exactly what they're doing here as well. "The Chinese Government prior to this happening had also tried to anticipate the movement of people for the Chinese New Year and instructed a large number of the cities to increase their food reserves to 10 days supply so while they had some supplies there this weather has exacerbated this problem."Mr Leviny says over the next few weeks as the weather starts to warm up, China will get a better picture of the damage. He believes, in the bigger sense these sorts of shocks are going to have an impact on China's overall ability to have food security and food sustainability. For major exporters like Australia, the opporutnities will be there."In terms of pork, there was a major disease outbreak here call blue-ear and it had substantial impacts on pig animals which unfortuantely succumbed to the disease. "Since then I've seen other countries and other companies opening up supply of pork into China which traditionally has been self sufficient. So if that's an example of the way they're thinking by opening up supply, then the answer is yes," he says.He sees opportunities for pork, other meats and grains to China.
In this report: Tim Leviny, general manager from Elders China
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