Floral Industry Innovation Center to modernize Taiwan’s Floriculture industry and strengthen global competitiveness
Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has launched the Floral Industry Innovation Center (FIIC) in Tainan’s Houbi District, marking a significant step toward modernizing Taiwan’s floriculture industry.
The initiative aims to enhance industrial transformation and bolster the country’s competitiveness in the global floral market. The FIIC integrates resources from the Taiwan Orchid Plantation and the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute’s Floricultural Experiment Branch. It will serve as a hub for industry services, research and development, and technology verification, focusing on breeding, production, cold-chain logistics, and marketing.
Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih emphasized that the FIIC is a flagship base for Taiwan’s floriculture industry. He highlighted its role in driving the sector’s transformation toward high-value, modernized, and internationally competitive products, aligning with President Lai Ching-te’s vision of showcasing Taiwan’s beauty through its flowers.
The center will support enterprises in adopting automation, smart, and low-carbon production systems to improve efficiency and stabilize product quality. It will also address challenges such as climate change and the competitive global market by implementing demand-driven R&D and fostering collaboration among academics, businesses, and experts.
The FIIC builds on the legacy of the Taiwan Orchid Plantation, established in 2003 and upgraded under the MOA’s 2025-2032 public infrastructure plan. The plantation, which spans 175 hectares and accounts for one-third of Taiwan’s moth orchid production, has faced challenges like aging infrastructure and limited space.
According to MOA statistics, Taiwan’s floriculture exports reached NT$6.5 billion (US$212.3 million) in 2024, with orchids comprising over 90% of the total. The FIIC aims to strengthen this position by addressing competitive pressures, particularly from the Netherlands, which benefits from lower tariffs in exporting moth orchids to the US. DPP Legislator Chen Ting-fei expressed support for the initiative, noting that the FIIC is expected to become a key hub for Taiwan’s floral industry. She highlighted the competitive edge of Taiwan’s high-quality orchids despite tariff disadvantages compared to the Netherlands.
In a related development, Taiwan Sugar Corp. announced plans to use its orchid farm in California as a production base for Taiwanese exporters. This initiative aims to improve flower quality, reduce shipping losses, and enhance Taiwan’s position in the global floral market.
