. Solar Energy News .




.
FARM NEWS
Scottish leader sees growth for whisky sales in China
by Staff Writers
Hong Kong (AFP) Dec 9, 2011


With Scotch whisky exports to China soaring, Scottish leader Alex Salmond said Friday his country's most iconic product is poised to become the next big thing in China's luxury market.

The first minister visited the mainland and Hong Kong this week to promote Scotland's famous malts and its largest export, fresh farmed salmon, to China's rapidly expanding fine dining industry.

He said Scotland could better France's Bordeaux region, which saw a 92 percent surge in wine export volumes to China in the 12 months to July, as China's rising affluence creates new markets for Western luxury goods.

"Whisky sales are up 35 percent this year to China," Salmond told AFP in an interview in the southern city of Hong Kong, the last stop of his China trip.

"If you take a couple of our iconic products together, Scotch whisky and Scottish salmon, then it's a billion RMB ($157 million) this year, an increase of well over a third for the two products together."

Wine imports to China are poised to set a new record after surging nearly 60 percent year-on-year in the first nine months of 2011 to US$940 million.

In the world of fine malt liquor, Salmond said Scotland had an unbeatable advantage -- its single malt Scotch whisky was unique, respected for the finest quality and simply the best product of its kind on the market.

"I think we've got a great platform to advance to the growing quality market in China," he said.

"People look for quality and authenticity and Scotch whisky and Scottish salmon are iconic products which offer that."

Strengthening trade with the Asian region in general is a key focus of his government, he said.

The economy looms large over discussions about an independent Scotland, which have stepped up a gear after the resounding victory of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in May's election to the devolved Edinburgh parliament.

The triumph of the pro-independence SNP, which won the first overall majority in the legislature since it opened in 1999, has paved the way for a referendum on a split from Britain which had previously seemed unlikely.

Salmond gave little away about his intentions for the plebiscite, repeating his stock response that a vote would take place in the second half of the parliament's five-year term.

The nationalists view the economy as one of their strong cards, arguing that Scotland can only flourish with independent control over its main industries, notably North Sea oil and gas but also whisky and fine foods.

The first minister said his government's huge majority freed him up to travel more and promote Scottish products around the world, particularly Asia.

"Not just in China but across Asia, Scottish products across the range are having great success and great growth and we expect that to continue. This is a big economic boost for Scotland," he said.

The Chinese rank about 16th on the list of biggest Scotch drinkers, but are "coming up very very fast," Salmond said.

"Initially of course the great blended whiskies like Johnnie Walker or Chivas Regal were the dominant ones (in China), but there does seem to be a real appetite for the single malt whiskies," he said.

The Scotch Whisky Association said in September sales to Asia increased 33 percent to 423 million pounds ($660 million) in the first six months of the year, well ahead of overall export growth of 22 percent.

China bought 57 million pounds worth of the stuff in the 12 months to June 2011, according to Scottish government figures.

Salmond said the Chinese government's decision last year to give Geographical Indication of Origin (GI) status to Scotch whisky was of "enormous value" to distillers.

In a country of counterfeit goods from iPhones to French Champagne, the designation guarantees that products labelled as "Scotch Whisky" actually come from Scotland.

"It's vital when you're selling a quality product that the consumer across Asia knows they are getting the absolute authentic product, not some cheap imitation whisky from America or other producers," Salmond said.

"The Chinese have been very cooperative and very wise in introducing that because they understand the importance for the Chinese consumer, particularly the new emerging Chinese consumer, in being able to get the right products."

He said more work needed to be done on enforcement but expressed confidence the Chinese would continue to work with their Scottish counterparts to ensure Chinese Scotch whisky lovers get the real thing.

Related Links
Farming Today - Suppliers and Technology




.
.
Get Our Free Newsletters Via Email
...
Buy Advertising Editorial Enquiries


China woman sentenced to death over poisoned milk
Beijing (AFP) Dec 9, 2011 - A Chinese court has sentenced a woman to death and jailed her husband for life after they were convicted of deliberately poisoning milk that killed three children, a statement said.

The court in the northwestern province of Gansu on Thursday found that Ma Xiuling and her husband Wu Guangquan added nitrite, an industrial salt, to fresh milk produced by a competitor following a series of disputes.

Three children died and another 36 people were hospitalised after drinking the tainted milk in April.

The court found Ma "ignored the consequences" and added nitrite to milk produced by a rival dairy farm knowing that it was "harmful to people's health", said a court statement dated Thursday.

The case is another black mark for China's scandal-prone food industry and its government regulators, who are still struggling to lay to rest a huge 2008 tainted-milk scandal that killed at least six babies and sickened 300,000.

Nitrite is a chemical used to make dyes and to preserve meats. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nitrite poisoning can result in nausea, dizziness, respiratory distress, loss of consciousness and seizures.



.

. Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle



FARM NEWS
Wine dregs improve cow milk, cut methane emissions
Melbourne (AFP) Dec 8, 2011
Feeding dairy cows the stems, seeds and skins from wine grapes boosts milk production and dramatically cuts the animal's methane emissions, Australian researched published Thursday shows. Scientists found that supplementing the cows' feed with grape marc - the leftover material from wine-making - reduced cow emissions by 20 percent and increased milk production by five percent. It als ... read more


FARM NEWS
US Navy in big biofuel purchase

E. Coli Bacteria Engineered to Eat Switchgrass and Make Transportation Fuels

OSU study questions cost-effectiveness of biofuels and their ability to cut fossil fuel use

Mast from classic racing yacht holds one of the keys to sustainable biofuels

FARM NEWS
ONR Helps Undersea Robots Get the Big Picture

Insect cyborgs may become first responders, search and monitor hazardous environs

Researchers design steady-handed robot for brain surgery

neuroArm: Robotic Arms Lend a Healing Touch

FARM NEWS
Wind farm fuels Ethiopia's green power ambitions

Brazil's wind power growth draws investors

Mortenson Construction Completes Elk Wind Project

Enel: More new wind capacity in Iberia

FARM NEWS
US lawmakers press GM on electric Volt's safety

CAFE standards create profit incentive for larger vehicles

Toyota cuts full-year profit forecast by 54%

Volkswagen approval for factory in west China: report

FARM NEWS
EU will not impose sanctions on Iran oil: minister

Obama might back off pipeline veto threat: lawmaker

Bulgaria exits Trans-Balkan pipeline

Marine Renewables: Farming the Ocean for Energy

FARM NEWS
Graphene grows better on certain copper crystals

New method of growing high-quality graphene promising for next-gen technology

Giant flakes make graphene oxide gel

Amorphous diamond, a new super-hard form of carbon created under ultrahigh pressure

FARM NEWS
Building a sustainable hydrogen economy

U.S. electric grid at risk?

Carbon dioxide emissions rebound quickly after global financial crisis

Global Carbon Project annual emissions summary

FARM NEWS
Ecologists fume as Brazil Senate OKs forestry reform

Brazil cracks down on illegal logging in Amazon

Palm planters blamed for Borneo monkey's decline

Madagascar fishermen protect mangroves to save jobs


.

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2012 - Space Media Network. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement