An official with China's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) said Monday that the country has invested 495 million yuan (US$59.85 million) in developing advanced technologies on farm produce processing.

Jia Jingdun, a MOST official in charge of rural and social development, said his ministry kicked off 29 projects, which attracted 82 companies, research institutes and universities for research and development.

From 2001 to 2004, statistics showed, Chinese scientists and technologists invented 211 new agricultural species, new materials and new equipment.

The research teams also applied for 120 China patents, with 31 ones having been already granted.

The value of newly added production reached 32.507 billion Yuan and revenues 4.411 billion yuan, the statistics said.

Jia said Chinese experts made great progress in membrane separation technology, sterile filling technology, normal-temperature squeezing technology, concentration technology and freezing chain technology.

Meanwhile, they have developed some well-received products such as refrigerant meat, protein separated from soy and condensed apple juice, Jia said.

Approved by the State Council, the ministry launched the science and technology advancement projects for speed up commercialization of agricultural products and make farmers better-off.

(Xinhua News Agency February 1, 2005)