Bangladesh plans to export 'organic meat' within three years

Safe and nutritious food becomes very important as genetically modified food is not helping, the minister says

Bangladesh is going to export “organic meat” produced by feeding cattle with completely natural and nutritious grass without any genetic modification within the next three years, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid has said.

Addressing a seminar in Dhaka on Wednesday, the minister emphasised safe and nutritious food, which he said is becoming very important globally as genetically modified food is not bringing good results.

The seminar titled Australia-Bangladesh Research Showcase was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute and Australia's Charles Sturt University (CSU), says a media statement.

Claiming that the government is giving the highest priority to the country's agricultural and livestock sectors, Rashid said through research, a modern cultivation method of Napier grass with 18 percent protein has already been developed.

Describing the high-protein and drought-tolerant grass as a breakthrough in the livestock sector, he said it would play an important role in producing high-quality animal feed at low cost.

As a result, the cost of meat production will be reduced and it will be possible to bring the market price of meat to a relatively tolerable level for the common people, said Rashid, who also serves as the agriculture minister.

He urged researchers and scientists to help create opportunities for independent research and innovative work for the country's benefit.