Increased demand for organic food products in China

SHANGHAI: Last month, Shanghai authorities declared that the city's food products are free from melamine, but that has not stopped residents from being cautious. For some consumers, the matter has yet to be laid to rest.

Many in Shanghai are still shopping for safer alternatives in the form of organic food. "You can't really trust what is going into the food produce, so this is the next best thing," one said.

As China's food safety concerns come under increased scrutiny, there is now a concerted move to develop the country's organic agriculture industry which is a rising star in the country's agriculture and food sector.

Shanghai Organics runs the two largest organic farms in China. The recent melamine scare has prompted them to expand their range of products.

Guy Weiner, managing director, Shanghai Organics, said: "Chickens that lay eggs on our farm eat organic food so after the scandal with the eggs in China and Hong Kong, many of our customers started calling us."

Mr Weiner has also noticed a changing mindset towards all things "organic".

"The last three to four years, this has changed a lot and today most of our customers are local Chinese," he said.

Sensing the demand, restaurants have started serving up organic dishes.

Willy Trullas Moreno, chef, el Willy, said: "We always use organic eggs. My organic stuff is like 70 per cent of the vegetable products that I have."

Liang Bin Wen, chef, MingTang Organic Dining Wine & Bar, said: "The vegetables and rice we use are all organic. The food we provide is 85 per cent to 90 per cent organic. We are trying to source for more suppliers of organic produce so that we can go 100 per cent organic."

Businesses will soon be spoilt for choice as more and more organic farms sprout up around Shanghai. It is estimated that some 2 million hectares of farmland in China are undergoing organic cultivation.

To ensure that the processing is truly clean and green, the country's Organic Food Development Centre is on hand to certify the products.