A Changing Diet - Affluence will drive agribusiness

THE megatrend in agribusiness will be higher demand for meat and high-protein food as millions emerge from poverty in Asia, says Cheo Tong Choon, Executive Chairman of the Singapore-listed Mewah Group. Mewah has expanded from refining and marketing palm oil (it is the world’s third-largest palm oil refiner) into rice and dairy. With more people set to change from vegetable-based diets, particularly in China and India, Cheo is “highly optimistic” of the future of countries like Australia and New Zealand as suppliers of beef,  lamb and dairy to emerging Asia . . .