Chia has been exported to 61 countries in recent years; now the Chinese market is opening up to this superfood.

After four days of inspection and audit of technical, sanitary and phytosanitary procedures in the production of chia, the Customs Administration of the People's Republic of China (AGAC) and Senasag established the agreements for the drafting of the export protocol to be signed by the highest authorities of Bolivia and China. Sales are expected to begin in 2024.

During the last seven years, chia has been exported to 61 countries and now the Chinese market is opening up to this superfood and it is expected that the first shipments can begin in 2024 and, according to exporters, this opens an important window to increase production.

"We estimate that from the next administration it will be possible to export chia grains to the Chinese market, everything depends on the speed with which the sanitary services of both countries close the authorization process", informed to Economy the vice-minister of Foreign Trade, Benjamín Blanco.

Export volumes will depend on the productive capacity of the export sector and the promotional actions implemented by the national government to increase demand in that country, he added.

He noted that in the first half of 2023, chia exports reached a volume of 3,754 tons worth $10.67 million and 26 were the destination markets, highlighting the Mexican with 46% of participation over the total value, the United States with 13% and Germany with 8%.
He assured that in recent years Bolivia has become one of the largest producers of chia grains, behind Paraguay. 

According to INE data, in the 2021/2022 season, production reached 11,074 tons with a tendency to grow from the opening of new markets, such as the Chinese market. The production potential is ample; in 2014, production exceeded 40,000 tons, highlighted Blanco.

According to data from the Departmental Chamber of Exporters of Santa Cruz (Cadex), in 2022 more than 8,200 tons of this product were exported with an income of close to US$23 million. In addition, data from the Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade (IBCE) reveal that 10.3 million dollars were sold abroad in the first half of the year.

Last year Mexico was the main destination market with sales of US$8 million, followed by Germany (US$3.1 million), the United States (US$2.7 million), Peru (US$1.7 million), the United Kingdom (US$1.5 million) and Chile (US$1.4 million). Then there is Australia ($978,390), Colombia ($802,115) and the Netherlands ($716,943), just to mention the main ones.

Cadex believes that motivated by the demand of a large market, such as China, these figures can be doubled in the medium term. In fact, in 2013, more than 20,000 tons were produced, which did not find a response in the market like the one in China today.  

The manager of the National Chamber of Exporters of Bolivia (Caneb), Marcelo Olguín, said that the Chinese market opens a great opportunity to expand the productive area of chia and maintain a growing commercial presence and this will have a positive impact on the economy in the coming years.

He recalled that this product is considered a superfood since it contains properties such as Omega 3 and if consumed on an empty stomach and with water it generates a feeling of satiety and allows a healthy diet, improves digestion and therein lies the growing interest of the markets.

China has the largest middle class population in the world as of 2015, China's middle class is projected to reach 1.2 billion by 2027 (nearly 4 times the entire current U.S. population).
This shows the important potential of this market for chia and other food products produced in Bolivia, adds Cadex.

"There is a global trend, of which the People's Republic of China is no stranger, is to consume healthy foods such as the family of superfoods, functional foods or nutraceuticals. This is why the market for plant-based products is expanding rapidly, due to health and environmental considerations," highlights the Chamber.

There is also an increased awareness of food origins among consumers in China, driving demand for high-quality food.

"Chia is part of the superfoods that our country is able to export, following the path that has been taken with beef, defining a virtuous triangle that allows an effective opening of markets and has to do with the momentum of a public-private platform, composed of the Foreign Ministry, the country's health authority and the private sector," says the Cadex.

Eliazer Arellano, president of Grupo Norte and producer of the northern Obispo Santiesteban area, explained that chia yields are not very high and are around 500 to 800 kilos per hectare and consume many nutrients from the soil.

"It pays approximately 2,800 dollars per ton, but per hectare it costs 500 to 800 kilos and it would take two hectares to produce one ton, while soybeans cost approximately 400 dollars per ton and the land is not ruined," he said.

Yields could be improved by using basic fertilizer, but he said that the opening of markets is positive, but it should also be for other crops, not just chia.
Another farmer from the eastern zone of Santa Cruz pointed out that chia has markets, but they are small and if there is a good agricultural year and a good harvest worldwide, prices collapse, which is why prices are variable.

For these products, he said it is necessary to establish agreements with long-term markets. "Agriculture is high risk, and there should not be export quotas because they only generate uncertainty and it is necessary to have real and stable agricultural insurance," he stressed.

Another wheat and soybean farmer from the Okinawa area in Santa Cruz, highlighted that chia is a good alternative crop in the winter season, and many plant it together with wheat and sorghum.

"It is a crop that in its first sowings some years ago has had a stable price at the beginning, but as it was cultivated in a larger area the price has decreased suddenly for those producers no longer want to produce, price fluctuations discourage," he noted.

Agreement

After four days of inspection and audit of the sanitary and phytosanitary technical procedures in the production of chia, the meeting of analysis and conclusion to the visit of the Customs Administration of the People's Republic of China (AGAC) was held at the premises of the National Agricultural Health and Food Safety Service (Senasag). The agreements for the drafting of the export protocol to be signed by the highest authorities of Bolivia and China were established.  

"They visited the productive properties, the plantations and verified the processing plants of this product, and after answering the consultations, an agreement was reached on the protocol that contemplates technical procedures that will be implemented by Senasag to make viable and guarantee that the product to be exported does not carry any risk of pest transmission and that it is free of physical-chemical-microbiological contaminants", informed the director of Senasag, Javier Suárez.

He pointed out that it was four days of hard work, both in offices and in the field, in which they were able to demonstrate to the Chinese delegation all the procedures and controls that Senasag carries out regarding the management of pests and chemical products used in chia crops.

"Good technical work has been carried out by the National Government, through the Ministry of Rural Development and Lands and Senasag, to ensure that the products being exported are of good quality and do not carry any risk to the production of the destination country and its consumption," he said.

Source : https://www.economy.com.bo/