CHINA is ready to take Australian beef, according to Department of State Development agribusiness expansion special advisor Rob Delane after a tour of its local facilities.
He said China was 10 steps ahead of the game in terms of agribusiness, and WA needed to catch up to ensure it didn't miss the economic opportunity.
The former Department of Agriculture and Food director general was transferred to lead a special unit aimed at expanding agribusiness in WA and better position producers to meet growing interest from overseas.
Mr Delane said he visited a feedlot and abattoir fitted to Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) requirements, built for the sole purpose of receiving Australian cattle.
"Clearly there are none through it yet," he said.
"But they are all ready to go.
"There continues to be no abating of interest in Australian beef."
Mr Delane said there was some concern over supply as China was able to build the physical infrastructure quicker than producers could build the biological infrastructure - more cows.
"The consumer demand, there is no question about that," he said.
"There is the question around price. But there is no question about how Chinese companies would process or the ability to build and operate ports, abattoirs and feedlots."
Mr Delane said WA had to keep its focus on building the herd and realise the Asian rainbow was real.
"It is not easy, and there are no guarantees here, but the demand for protein is climbing and interest in our product is phenomenal," he said.
"We are also encourage partnerships, so they are aware of the right attention and capital investment right along the supply chain.
"I have been talking to key people in the beef industry, finance companies and working closely with DAFWA's grains and livestock industries executive director Peter Metcalfe who is taking it into the agricultural sphere and Northern Beef Futures project."
Mr Delane said Australia had some work to do to capitalise on the growing demand from China.
"I had a lot of meetings in China around live cattle," Mr Delane said.
"A lot of the companies we have been in contact with have already moved significantly to invest in port facilities, feedlots and abattoirs.
"That already could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of investments.
"The Chinese end of the supply chain is well advanced in terms of being ready to receive Australian cattle."
Mr Delane said the challenge for Australia and WA was to take advantage of the economic opportunity.
"The real challenge will be, we need a good supply of Australian cattle for the emerging Chinese market, as well as other markets," he said.
"I have talked to them about balanced investment, so that the cattle are there to go through their stainless steel facilities in China."
Over the past few months, the State Government has set up trade and investment offices in Indonesia, Singapore and India.
Mr Delane is due to travel to Singapore and India to work with the new staff.
"I am going there in support of them and to hold meetings in Singapore about agifood product," he said.
"Singapore is a massive food, wine and investment market, so we will talk about what is happening here and what they are looking for."