The eco-food commission of the Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences (CSES) has been launched in Beijing on Sept 11, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A commission specializing in ecological food conservation wasestablished in the Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences (CSES) in Beijing on Sunday, setting the stage for eco-food exploration in the country.

"China has the richest resources for food materials and it also has a rich history for agriculture development," Wang Yuqing, chair of the CSES, said during his key note speech."

"However, with the ecological degradation and the excessive use of chemicals, China's eco-food is under severe threat, bringing huge impact on the sustainable development and ecological safety."

As such, the eco-food commission has been set up with the support from environmental specialists both in China and overseas, aiming to collaborate with both the Chinese authorities, global NGOs and enterprises to produce eco-friendly food.

More than 200 of the nation's environmental experts and officials have gathered in Beijing to witness the formation of a new eco-food body, with the hope there is still much room for the country's eco-food industry. During the launch, a memorandum was been signed between WildAid, a San Francisco-based environmental organization, and the new commission for potential cooperation in food choices.

"At the moment, property rights for many Chinese eco-foods are still not well defined," said Professor Wu Junjie from Oregon State University."That's why eco-food in China is in great need for policy protection."