http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/country...beef-push/
So much for the asian vegetarian diet.
Quote:Herdsman: Andrew Forrest at his Minderoo Station in th ePilbara. Picture: Ron D'Raine/The West Australian
Mining magnate Andrew Forrest and Elders are pursuing a deal that will change the face of the Australian cattle industry by opening up live exports to China.
The WA billionaire and the historic Australian agribusiness have joined forces in a venture likely to involve major Chinese meat processors.
The Chinese market is considered the holy grail for the Australian cattle industry, which is already scrambling to meet demand from Indonesia and other South-East Asian countries.
Experts expect that opening the Chinese market for the first time will create a spike in the value of grazing land, spark investment in bigger herds and lead to an increase in prices.
The deal provides Mr Forrest with a golden opportunity to supply prized Australian cattle to feed people living in cities built using iron ore from his Fortescue mines in the Pilbara.
Mr Forrest, whose family were pioneers of the WA pastoral industry, and Elders have worked on creating a supply chain into China since last year.
So much for the asian vegetarian diet.
"The Universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest." G'Kar-B5
