Uni-China Group empowers local agriculture with ‘HK farmland’ programme

Uni-China Group has launched its flagship initiative, the "Hong Kong farmland" (港人農地) brand programme, as part of its commitment to the future development of Hong Kong's agriculture and fisheries industries.

The group has cited 2024 data from the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department showing that local capture fisheries production reached about 92,000 tonnes, while marine fish culture production was only 626 tonnes. Together, local output accounted for roughly 20% of Hong Kong's total seafood consumption, with annual imports averaging over 350,000 tonnes, indicating significant untapped potential in the local market.

Therefore, the "Hong Kong farmland" programme is poised to fill this gap, aiming to significantly increase local production value and inject billions of dollars into the sector, boosting new economic vitality.

The programme also aligns with the National 15th five-year plan for economic and social development, which emphasises advancing agricultural and rural modernisation, as well as the Hong Kong government's blueprint for sustainable development in agriculture and fisheries, according to Uni-China Group.

By leveraging technology, optimising supply chains, and implementing brand management, Uni-China Group aims to advance the modernisation and sustainable development of local agriculture and fisheries industries. This initiative seeks to revitalise native resources and provide citizens with high-quality, healthy, value-for-money, low-carbon, and environmentally friendly locally produced agricultural and fisheries products, thus opening a new chapter for these industries.

The "Hong Kong Farmland" programme upholds the principle of balancing development with conservation. It have employed modern technologies to boost local production capacity, with the goal of establishing a comprehensive industrial value chain, from production and sales to logistics and brand development, thereby significantly enhancing the market competitiveness of local agricultural and fisheries products.

It aims to establish "made in Hong Kong" agricultural and fisheries products as symbols of superior quality and trustworthiness. This will inject strong momentum into the local economy while creating a new industry model that delivers both economic benefits and social value.

As a major step toward realising the blueprint, Uni-China Group has secured Hong Kong government's deep-sea aquaculture project in the Mirs Bay (South) new fish culture zone and has been officially granted an approval In principle letter for marine fish culture license by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Centered on advanced deep-sea aquaculture technology, the project will cultivate high-quality fish species in pristine waters.

Through the programme, Uni-China Group is committed to achieving the sustainable development goals for Hong Kong's agriculture and fisheries industries, while enhancing the self-sufficiency rate of local products. This not only ensures citizens enjoy fresh, safe local produce and helps position Hong Kong as a hub for high-quality food supply, but it also creates employment and innovation opportunities for the younger generation, supporting Hong Kong's economic diversification.

Jackie Ling, chairman of Uni-China Group, said: "Rooted in Hong Kong for 25 years, Uni- China Group has remained dedicated to fresh food retail and industry revitalisation. The launch of the ‘Hong Kong farmland’ brand programme represents a major step in giving back to society and promoting local agriculture and fisheries. The nation's 15th five-year plan clearly emphasises advancing agricultural and rural modernisation, transforming agriculture into a modern large-scale industry.”

“Uni-China Group will fully align with the development strategies of the nation and the Hong Kong government by introducing expertise and advanced technologies, and leveraging our robust retail network to build a complete value chain from production and cold-chain logistics to retail and brand development, delivering premium local agricultural and fisheries products to Hong Kong citizens,” he added. 

“Moving forward, we will continue to collaborate closely with the government and industry partners to promote sustainable development in Hong Kong's agriculture and fisheries industries, creating broader prospects for all stakeholders,” he continued.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Uni-China for more information. 

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