Kaiyang signs deals to boost selenium commercial development

A meeting takes place between Kaiyang district government officials and representatives of the National Innovation Alliance for Functional Agriculture Science and Technology and Anhui Xigu Biotechnology Co, on Sept 9. [Photo/Kaiyang media center]

Kaiyang county in Guiyang -- capital city of Southwest China's Guizhou province -- signed two key agreements on Sept 9 to boost the commercial development of its selenium industry.

The agreements were signed with the Kaiyang Selenium-enriched Industry Development Center and the National Innovation Alliance for Functional Agriculture Science and Technology, to set up a Guizhou office in Kaiyang -- as well as with Kaiyang Xizhou Commercial Investment Co and Anhui Xigu Biotechnology Co to establish a joint venture.

At a signing ceremony held on Sept 9, Wang Qiyun, Party secretary of Kaiyang county, handed a letter of appointment to Yin Xuebin, chairman of the National Innovation Alliance for Functional Agriculture Science and Technology.

Kaiyang county signs two agreements to boost the development of its selenium-rich sector. [Photo/Kaiyang media center]

Yin gave a talk at the ceremony on the current development conditions in the selenium industry and provided suggestions for the development of Kaiyang's selenium sector.

Selenium is an essential health-giving mineral that experts say may help prevent cardiovascular disease, thyroid problems, cognitive decline, and others. It can be used in tea, oil and rice -- among other things -- and as such it has major appeal and commercial value to the health industry.

Around 99.91 percent of the soil in Kaiyang county is thought to be rich in selenium and the selenium content of animals and plants is estimated at between 0.05 and 0.28 mg/kg, which meets the United Nations Health Organization's selenium content standard for health food.

Selenium-rich rice, oil and tea produced in the county has already won the appellation of being a China Organic Food.

Wang Qiyun (left), Party secretary of Kaiyang county, awards a letter of appointment to selenium industry development consultant Yin Xuebin. [Photo/Kaiyang media center]