For the first time at the annual exhibition, the Netherlands has a national pavilion including Europe's leading meat industry company Vion Foods and automatic pig feeding system manufacturer Nedap Velos.

Gerard Wiejers from Nedap Velos said that more and more farms in China are turning to larger integrated systems, whereas in Europe and the western world, the emphasis is on maximising production. In China, emphasis is laid on maximising efficiency.

The exhibition has also attracted international presence from the Irish meat industry through the national food agency Bord Bia, the Canadian Pork Promotion Council and the Canadian Beef Export Federation and the German meat industry association, German Meat, together with leading companies such as Tönnies Fleisch and integrated cooperative Böseler Goldschmaus.

Together with many international meat industry equipment manufacturers, the exhibition is also a showcase for the leading Chinese meat industry companies including Shineway, Zhongpin, Yurun Food Group and Goldkinn Foods.

With a focus on food safety and quality in the Chinese meat industry outlined in the 12th Five Year Plan, the exhibition is also focusing on many new organisations delivering food safety systems and assistance.

Lawrie Stewart from Sealed Air Cryovac said that the new plan for the meat industry offered a change in attitude for the Chinese meat industry with not only investment in technology but also a change in direction with more emphasis on food safety and quality.