Bolivia’s Minister of Rural Development, Remmy Gonzales, announced the government’s interest in providing chia seeds to some 400,000 people in China.
“There is interest from buyers from China to supply chia for 400,000 people in China. We know that in that country there are many inhabitants, but this has been the requirement,” said the minister at a conference in the city of La Paz.
“A mission from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China arrived in Bolivia and will work until September 3 to evaluate production capacities as well as phytosanitary measures for export,” Gonzales said.
“This mission will tour the areas where chia is produced and the plants that benefit from it to evaluate pest management and other measures for the management of this product,” Gonzales explained.
“The domestic demand for chia is covered by more than 20,000 tons, and it should be recalled that Bolivia has already conquered other markets with this seed. Now we are waiting for China’s authorization for the export of chia, and we believe that this will happen in a short time,” he said.
Chia is a superfood, like quinoa cereal, which contains large amounts of nutrients unlike other foods and is rich in vitamin B, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, and dietary fiber.
After Paraguay, Bolivia is the world’s second-largest exporter of chia seeds. In the first half of 2023, the country exported about 3,750 tons of this product to more than 26 markets, worth 11 million dollars.
