https://agrospectrumasia.com/rssfeed/country/taiwan taiwan https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/4827/taiwans-holstein-breakthrough-could-help-address-philippine-milk-deficit.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/4827/taiwans-holstein-breakthrough-could-help-address-philippine-milk-deficit.html Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:54:49 +0530 Taiwan is preparing to export breeding cattle to the Philippines for the first time after Manila approved imports, opening a new avenue for agricultural cooperation between the two economies and creating an opportunity to strengthen the Philippines’ underdeveloped dairy sector. The approval, announced by Taiwan’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency, follows two years of negotiations over animal health requirements and export quarantine certification. The agreement centres on Holstein cattle selectively bred in Taiwan to withstand hot, humid conditions while retaining the high milk yields associated with the dairy breed. For the Philippines, the move addresses a structural weakness in its dairy supply chain. The country produces less than 5 per cent of its domestic milk requirements, according to Taiwan’s Livestock Research Institute, leaving a substantial gap between local production and consumption. Improving the productivity and suitability of its dairy herd is one potential route to narrowing that deficit. The export approval also offers Taiwan an opportunity to demonstrate the commercial value of its livestock breeding expertise beyond its domestic market. Heat-adapted Holsteins offer a different approach to tropical dairying Holsteins originated in the Netherlands and the adjoining German-Danish border region and are widely known for their high milk production. However, conventional dairy cattle can face challenges in tropical environments, where heat and humidity affect animal comfort, productivity and management requirements. In many tropical Asian markets, farmers have traditionally relied on indigenous cattle and heat-tolerant zebu breeds. While these animals are better adapted to local conditions, they generally produce less milk than specialised dairy breeds. Crossbreeding and selective breeding offer a way to balance these competing requirements. Taiwan’s Livestock Research Institute has worked to adapt Holsteins to hot, humid conditions while maintaining milk production, potentially making the animals more suitable for tropical dairy operations. Livestock Research Institute Director Huang Chen-fang described the achievement as an important milestone for Taiwan’s dairy industry. The Philippines’ interest in the cattle reflects a shared climatic challenge and the need for breeding stock capable of performing under tropical conditions. Two-year process clears the way for exports Taiwan applied to export breeding cattle to the Philippines in 2024, with Philippine officials inspecting local farms in November that year. Manila approved Mei-gui Ranch in Tainan and Ho-sheng Ranch in Changhua County for live cattle exports in May 2025, according to Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency Deputy Director-General Fu Hsueh-li. The two sides subsequently negotiated animal health requirements for export quarantine certificates, with assistance from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines. The latest approval clears a key regulatory hurdle for Taiwan’s first breeding-cattle exports to the country. The agreement’s commercial significance will depend on the scale of shipments, the cost of importing and maintaining the animals, and the ability of Philippine dairy farms to support productive herds. Access to suitable breeding stock alone will not close the country’s milk supply gap; feeding systems, veterinary services, farm management, breeding programmes and reliable milk collection and processing infrastructure will also matter. Livestock technology could widen the opportunity Taiwan’s ambitions extend beyond live animal exports. Huang said the Livestock Research Institute also hopes to export automated equipment, including farm-management robots, to the Philippines. Such technology could support more systematic herd monitoring and farm operations as dairy producers seek to improve productivity. If breeding stock and farm technology are developed as complementary offerings, Taiwan could potentially build a broader agricultural export relationship with the Philippines. The first cattle shipments will mark an important milestone, but the longer-term test will be whether the breeding stock and associated technologies can help Philippine dairy farmers raise milk output economically under local conditions. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/4542/eva-air-microsoft-and-partners-target-15000-tonnes-of-scope-3-emissions-cuts-through-saf.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/4542/eva-air-microsoft-and-partners-target-15000-tonnes-of-scope-3-emissions-cuts-through-saf.html Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:00:04 +0530 EVA Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with leading global freight forwarder AIT Worldwide Logistics (AIT) to jointly advance EVA Air's Green Transportation Program over the next two years. In the first year of the collaboration, EVA Air will provide approximately 15,000 metric tons of CO₂e in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) environmental attributes to Microsoft, helping reduce the Scope 3 emissions associated with air transportation of its cloud infrastructure equipment. Microsoft and Formosa Petrochemical Corporation (FPCC) also attended the signing ceremony, demonstrating a shared goal across the aviation, energy, logistics and technology sectors to accelerate lower-carbon air transportation. The flights supporting this collaboration will depart from Taiwan using SAF supplied by FPCC. Produced from used cooking oil (UCO), the fuel has been certified under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) system for both its feedstock and production process. Compared with conventional jet fuel, it delivers approximately 80% lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. The associated SAF environmental attributes will be issued and retired through the ISCC Credit Transfer System (CTS), an internationally recognized registry for tracking sustainability attributes, enabling Microsoft to account for the resulting Scope 3 emissions reductions associated with air freight transportation. In 2020, Microsoft committed to becoming carbon negative by 2030. To support this ambition, the company has continued to invest in SAF and other innovative solutions to reduce emissions across its value chain. This collaboration demonstrates how these investments and corporate demand can help accelerate SAF adoption while supporting the growth of Taiwan's domestic SAF market and a broader low-carbon aviation ecosystem. As global demand for lower-carbon supply chains and sustainable transportation continues to grow, EVA Air has been actively expanding its SAF strategy. Since 2025, the airline has regularly incorporated SAF into flights departing from Asia, Europe and North America, while also signing a five-year SAF procurement agreement with FPCC. Through its Green Transportation Program, EVA Air helps corporate customers and freight forwarders better understand the carbon footprint of air transportation while supporting their Scope 3 decarbonization goals through SAF environmental attributes. Together with AIT, Microsoft and FPCC, EVA Air aims to establish a scalable and repeatable collaboration model that encourages broader corporate participation, expands SAF adoption and accelerates aviation's transition toward net zero. "Achieving net-zero aviation requires collaboration across the entire value chain—from airlines and fuel suppliers to logistics providers and corporate customers," said Clay Sun, President of EVA Air. "This collaboration demonstrates that when customer demand is aligned with industry resources, it can accelerate the development of the SAF market. We look forward to working with more partners to make lower-carbon air transportation the new standard for global supply chains." “Every year, our teams are shipping large volumes of sensitive, high-value air cargo from Taiwan. EVA Air has been the partner of choice to support our exponential growth in the region and our trust in their executive leadership is rooted in decades-long relationships,” AIT’s Chief Strategy Officer, Greg Weigel, said, “By demonstrating the benefits of this collaboration with Microsoft, a strategically important customer; EVA Air, one of our core carriers; and FPCC, a local SAF producer, we hope to influence the market and inspire similar collaborations between airlines, producers, forwarders and customers in the Asia-Pacific region.”  The MOU was signed by Jason Liu, Chief Sustainability Officer of EVA Air, and Greg Weigel, Chief Strategy Officer of AIT Worldwide Logistics. The signing was witnessed by Shu-Ping Ho, Director General of Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration; Eric Crowley, Commercial Section Deputy Chief at the American Institute in Taiwan; Clay Sun, President of EVA Air; Keh-Yen Lin, President of Formosa Petrochemical Corporation; Ryan Carter, Executive Vice President, Global Operations of AIT Worldwide Logistics; and Vincent Shih, General Manager of Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs for Microsoft Taiwan. Together, the four organizations represent an integrated SAF value chain spanning aviation, fuel production, logistics and corporate customers, further advancing supply chain decarbonization and the aviation industry's low-carbon transition. EVA Air continues to strengthen its sustainability governance and disclosure practices. Since 2021, the airline has participated in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) and has been included in The Sustainability Yearbook for five consecutive years. In May 2026, EVA Air also became the only Taiwanese airline selected as a constituent of the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Emerging Markets Index (DJBIC Emerging Markets Index). The Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices (DJBIC) are among the world's leading sustainability benchmarks, evaluating companies across environmental, social, governance and economic dimensions based on the S&P Global CSA. This recognition reflects EVA Air's continued progress in sustainability governance and decarbonization. Looking ahead, EVA Air will continue expanding the use of SAF, improving operational efficiency, and working closely with suppliers, corporate customers and global partners to accelerate the transition toward net-zero aviation and create long-term value through sustainable growth. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/4158/taiwans-rice-house-smart-agri-scales-ai-powered-low-carbon-rice-production.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/4158/taiwans-rice-house-smart-agri-scales-ai-powered-low-carbon-rice-production.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:01:33 +0530 Taiwan-based Rice House Smart Agri has successfully transitioned its AI-driven sustainable rice cultivation programme from pilot stage to large-scale commercial production, marking a significant milestone in the application of digital technologies to climate-smart agriculture. The initiative, marketed under the company’s flagship Dachiao brand as AI-Green Rice, combines artificial intelligence, precision irrigation management and sustainable farming practices to address some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing global agriculture, including water scarcity, greenhouse gas emissions and the growing demand for low-carbon food production. Developed in collaboration with the AIMIA research team at National Chung Hsing University and supported by Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council, the programme has expanded from an initial six-hectare pilot project to large-scale commercial operations across Erlin Township in Changhua County, one of Taiwan’s important agricultural regions. Artificial Intelligence Transforms Paddy Field Management At the heart of the programme lies an AI-powered irrigation decision platform designed to optimise water management in rice cultivation. Traditional paddy farming relies on continuous flooding, a practice that consumes vast quantities of water while creating anaerobic soil conditions that stimulate methane production. Methane is widely recognised as one of agriculture’s most significant greenhouse gas contributors, particularly within rice-growing systems. Rice House Smart Agri’s solution enables farmers to capture images of rice plants using smartphones and upload them to a cloud-based platform. Within seconds, artificial intelligence algorithms analyse plant growth conditions and spectral characteristics before generating irrigation recommendations tailored to field requirements. The system supports an Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) cultivation model, allowing producers to apply water more precisely while maintaining productivity and crop performance. By transforming irrigation decisions into a data-driven process, the platform enables growers to reduce unnecessary water use while simultaneously improving environmental outcomes and resource efficiency. Delivering Measurable Environmental Impact The commercial deployment has already demonstrated substantial sustainability gains compared with conventional rice production methods. According to project data, every kilogram of AI-Green Rice produced delivers significant reductions in resource consumption and emissions, including lower irrigation requirements, reduced methane generation and decreased energy consumption associated with water pumping. The AI-guided cultivation model achieves water savings of approximately two metric tonnes per kilogram of rice produced while reducing irrigation demand by up to 30 per cent. It also lowers carbon emissions by approximately 260 grams of CO₂-equivalent per kilogram and reduces methane emissions from paddy fields by as much as 35 per cent. The environmental impact becomes even more significant at scale. Across the programme’s initial 180-hectare commercial implementation area, cumulative savings have already surpassed 1.35 million metric tonnes of water conservation, while greenhouse gas reductions exceed 142 metric tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions. Energy consumption has also declined substantially through reduced operation of irrigation infrastructure. The results illustrate the growing potential of artificial intelligence to support agricultural decarbonisation efforts while enhancing the efficient use of natural resources. Supporting Corporate Sustainability and ESG Goals As food companies, hospitality operators and multinational corporations face increasing pressure to demonstrate measurable sustainability performance, low-carbon agricultural sourcing is emerging as an important component of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies. Rice House Smart Agri is actively working with restaurants, hotel chains and corporate procurement teams seeking to integrate lower-carbon food products into their supply chains and sustainability reporting frameworks. The company believes that data-driven agriculture can provide businesses with verifiable environmental metrics while strengthening transparency throughout the food value chain. To support traceability and consumer confidence, AI-Green Rice is certified under Taiwan’s Traceable Agricultural Product (TAP) system, enabling end-to-end visibility from farm production through to final consumption. Premium Quality Meets Sustainability While environmental performance remains central to the programme, Rice House Smart Agri maintains that sustainability must be accompanied by premium product quality to ensure long-term market acceptance. The AI-Green Rice portfolio includes several of Taiwan’s most highly regarded rice varieties, including Koshihikari, Taichung No. 194, Tainan No. 16, Kaohsiung No. 147 and Taikeng No. 9, each recognised for distinctive flavour profiles, texture characteristics and culinary appeal. By combining advanced cultivation technologies with premium varietal selection, the company aims to demonstrate that climate-conscious agriculture can deliver both environmental benefits and superior consumer experiences. A Blueprint for the Future of Rice Farming As governments, food manufacturers and retailers intensify efforts to reduce agricultural emissions and strengthen food system resilience, Rice House Smart Agri’s AI-Green Rice initiative offers a compelling model for the future of sustainable crop production. The successful commercialisation of AI-assisted irrigation management highlights how digital innovation can simultaneously improve productivity, reduce environmental impact and support corporate sustainability objectives without compromising quality or profitability. With growing global interest in regenerative and low-carbon agriculture, the project positions Taiwan’s rice industry at the forefront of next-generation farming solutions and underscores the increasingly important role of artificial intelligence in building resilient, resource-efficient food systems for the decades ahead. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3769/un-backed-team-reviews-taiwans-climate-and-agriculture-model.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3769/un-backed-team-reviews-taiwans-climate-and-agriculture-model.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:58:52 +0530 Tainan projects highlight scalable approaches to carbon storage and sustainability Taiwan’s evolving approach to climate action and carbon sequestration drew global attention as international experts, including representatives from the United Nations Development Programme and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, conducted a multi-site field assessment across Tainan City. The visit highlighted the growing international relevance of the “Taiwan Model,” an integrated framework that combines technology, ecology, and community-driven governance to advance net-zero goals. The delegation, comprising scientists, policymakers, and students, undertook on-ground evaluations across five districts—Liujia, Dongshan, Baihe, Houbi, and Yanshui—to examine carbon sink potential within diverse agricultural and ecological landscapes. The initiative integrates advanced tools such as satellite remote sensing and artificial intelligence with traditional ecological knowledge, aligning with the principles of the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability and the Social-Ecological Production Landscape and Seascape (SEPLS) framework. In Liujia District, bald cypress wetlands have emerged as a flagship carbon sink demonstration site. Supported by satellite data from Taiwan’s National Space Organization, the landscape illustrates how natural ecosystems can be transformed into measurable carbon assets while maintaining ecological and tourism value. The model introduces innovative mechanisms that convert carbon rights into community-linked economic opportunities. Dongshan District showcased the integration of agriculture and biodiversity through its dragon fruit industry. By embedding environmental metrics into farming practices, the region exemplifies how agricultural systems can generate both economic returns and ecological benefits—what local stakeholders describe as a “bio-cultural dividend.” Similarly, Baihe District’s bamboo forests are being redefined as high-integrity carbon assets through AI-enabled monitoring and participatory governance frameworks. The incorporation of principles such as Free, Prior, and Informed Consent ensures that local communities remain central to decision-making and benefit-sharing processes. In Houbi District, guava orchards are at the forefront of a transition towards a carbon credit-based agricultural economy. Leveraging remote sensing technologies, farmers are aligning productivity with environmental stewardship, enabling income generation through sustainable practices. Yanshui District, meanwhile, demonstrated climate resilience through its adoption of dryland farming systems. The cultivation of drought-resistant crops such as sorghum and soybeans reflects a strategic response to water scarcity, while contributing to enhanced carbon storage and long-term sustainability. Experts noted that Taiwan’s approach effectively translates global climate frameworks into actionable, community-level solutions. By integrating cutting-edge technologies with indigenous knowledge systems, the model offers a scalable blueprint for aligning local development with international climate commitments, including Nationally Determined Contributions. The field study underscores a broader shift in climate strategy—from isolated interventions to holistic, landscape-level solutions. Taiwan’s “net-zero pathways” illustrate how agriculture, biodiversity, and community participation can converge to create resilient, high-impact carbon systems with global applicability. As Taiwan continues to engage with international institutions and expand collaborative frameworks, the “Taiwan Model” is positioning itself as a replicable template for regenerative development—demonstrating that effective climate governance can be rooted in local ecosystems while delivering global outcomes. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3753/saury-catch-limits-reduced-by-5-per-cent-across-north-pacific.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3753/saury-catch-limits-reduced-by-5-per-cent-across-north-pacific.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:54:58 +0530 Japan’s push for steeper cuts falls short at fisheries meet Japan and eight other economies have agreed to reduce their combined saury fishing quota by 5 per cent for 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to address declining fish stocks in the North Pacific. The agreement, reached under the North Pacific Fisheries Commission at a recent meeting in Osaka, will lower the total allowable catch from the current 202,500 tonnes, covering both international waters and exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of member countries. The nine-member grouping includes China, Taiwan, South Korea and Russia, among others. While the decision marks a step towards conservation, it falls short of Japan’s proposal to cut quotas by 10 per cent, which it had pushed for to accelerate the recovery of depleted saury stocks. Officials said the commission has agreed to implement a deeper 10 per cent reduction in 2027, signalling a phased approach to tightening fishing limits in the coming years. Japan has been advocating stricter controls, particularly in international waters, citing higher fishing activity by some member economies. In 2025, Japan’s quota stood at around 16,000 tonnes in international waters, with a combined allocation of about 81,000 tonnes for Japan and Russia within their EEZs. Despite catching approximately 64,800 tonnes in 2025—below its quota but nearly 1.7 times higher year-on-year due to favourable ocean conditions—the long-term trend remains concerning. Total saury catches have declined by nearly 80 per cent compared to their peak in 2008, highlighting the urgency of coordinated conservation measures. The latest agreement underscores growing regional efforts to balance fishing activity with sustainability, as stakeholders seek to restore fish populations while maintaining economic viability for the industry. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3626/yeshealth-group-expands-vertical-farming-in-taiwan-with-new-taichung-facility.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3626/yeshealth-group-expands-vertical-farming-in-taiwan-with-new-taichung-facility.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:47:30 +0530 Commercial production is set for Q4 2026, targeting the central Taiwan markets like Miaoli, Taichung, Changhua, Nantou, and Yunlin. YesHealth Group has announced the expansion of its vertical farming operations in Taiwan through a partnership with Taichung-based Seasons Future Farm Co., Ltd. The collaboration will establish a large-scale indoor vertical farm in Xinshe District, Taichung City, to enhance regional food supplies and promote sustainable agriculture. Spanning a 6,000-square-meter site, the farm will offer 15,000 square meters of cultivation space with 13 growing racks, each 11 meters high, for high-density, year-round leafy greens production. Season's Future Farm will oversee building construction per YesHealth Group's specifications, while YesHealth will design and operate the farming systems. Construction began on February 13, 2026, with the installation of equipment starting in August 2026. Commercial production is set for Q4 2026, targeting the central Taiwan markets like Miaoli, Taichung, Changhua, Nantou, and Yunlin. The facility will also integrate with YesHealth's Taoyuan operations under the YesHealth iFarm brand to broaden distribution. Chairman Chung Tsu-hui of Seasons Future Farm emphasized the project's roots in concerns for consumer health and sustainable agriculture, inspired by challenges in traditional farming and a visit to YesHealth's technology-driven farm. YesHealth Group's Winston Tsai highlighted the shared vision of delivering fresh, safe produce closer to communities. The collaboration will also support B2B customers, including retail and hospitality, and enable Seasons Future Farm to launch its consumer brand. A professional operations team will manage daily production under a three-year agreement following eight months of joint planning. Both organizations aim to develop one to two similar-scale farms in central Taiwan in the future. YesHealth Group, a global leader in controlled-environment agriculture, operates vertical farms worldwide, including its newest facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, launched in Q1 2026. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3608/taiwan-researchers-create-water-efficient-rice-varieties-to-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3608/taiwan-researchers-create-water-efficient-rice-varieties-to-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:27:40 +0530 Taoyuan District Agricultural and Extension Station's Chalky rice grains have cloudy patches in their heart or belly, making them look less translucent than regular grains and tend to taste more floury and less chewy. The Taoyuan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station said it has developed three new rice cultivars that need less water and can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions thanks to their tolerance of pests, diseases and extreme weather. Climate change over the years has led to extreme weather events such as droughts, high temperatures and uneven rainfall patterns, the station said on Tuesday last week. High temperatures could cause more chalky rice grains in rice production, while water shortages often cause insufficient irrigation to fields and disrupted tillage in spring, it said. Chalky rice grains have cloudy patches in their heart or belly, making them look less translucent than regular grains and tend to taste more floury and less chewy. Volatile weather in the past few years has also led to increased cases of rice blast — a disease that can infect almost all parts of rice plants above the ground and is often caused by excessive moisture, the station said. To stabilize rice production and ensure the quality, the station has cultivated new rice varieties that are more tolerant of diseases and droughts, with three important cultivars developed over the past few years, including “Taoyuan No. 5” in 2019, “Taoyuan No. 6” in 2021, and “Taoyuan No. 7” in 2023. Taoyuan No. 5 has high heat resistance and a chalky grain rate of less than 10 percent, the station said. It can be harvested up to 10 days earlier than other late-maturing varieties, and its seedlings can be planted as late as April without its production and quality being affected, it said. Taoyuan No. 5 helps ease the competition for irrigation water in February and March, the station said, adding that it helped save about 3,000m3 of irrigation water per hectare in spring. Taoyuan No. 6 has good resistance to pests and diseases, and was developed to promote eco-friendly farming, it said. It does not require any pesticides during its growing period and requires only 80 percent of the nitrogen fertilizer application rates recommended for rice grown in northern Taiwan, helping to reduce about 1 tonne of carbon dioxide per hectare, the station said. Taoyuan No. 7 was developed based on “Taoyuan No. 3” — a variety that won many local rice competitions for its excellent quality, but became prone to rice blast diseases due to climate change, it said. The station said that by inserting rice blast-resistant gene fragments into Taoyuan No. 3, it successfully developed Taoyuan No. 7, which is highly resistant to rice blast even without fungicides being applied against the disease. Taoyuan No. 7 almost doubled the production of Taoyuan No. 3 on average and saved NT$5,000 to NT$15,000 in labor costs and pesticide use, it said. Its reduced fungicide use not only reduced pollution, but also helped prevent development of pathogens’ antimicrobial resistance, it said. As of last year, a total of more than 50 hectares of farmland in water-stressed areas were planted with Taoyuan No. 5, while more than 100 hectares of farmland in Hsinchu County’s Hukou Township (湖口) were planted with Taoyuan No. 6, the station said. Taoyuan No. 7 has also been cultivated in many rice fields across northern Taiwan, with a total planting area of up to 100 hectares, it said. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3603/taiwans-dragon-fruit-jujubes-and-lychees-approved-for-export-to-the-eu.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3603/taiwans-dragon-fruit-jujubes-and-lychees-approved-for-export-to-the-eu.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:42:07 +0530 Builds on bilateral agricultural trade relation The Plant Health Unit of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), has approved the export of Taiwan-produced dragon fruit, jujubes, and lychees to the EU market. This marks another significant milestone in bilateral agricultural trade, following the successful entry of Taiwanese guavas and mangoes into the EU market last June 2025. According to EU guidance, import requirements for these items are detailed in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. Taiwanese exporters must strictly comply with the relevant provisions in Annex XI of this regulation. They must also accompany shipments with phytosanitary certificates issued by Taiwanese authorities to ensure products meet EU plant health standards. Regarding occasional time lags in the administrative process of EU Member States, and based on past experience, the detailed quarantine conditions and operational specifications for individual fruits still require final confirmation with the actual importing EU Member State. If the latest quarantine regulations or implementation status of the target country (specific EU Member State) cannot be fully confirmed before formally launching exportation, Taiwanese exporters must consult the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA). The official agency will fully assist in contacting and confirming details, providing the industry with the strongest technical support. This EU market opening not only demonstrates the competitiveness of Taiwan's premium fresh fruits but also underscores the international recognition of our nation's robust animal and plant quarantine capabilities. The APHIA urges exporters to ensure that orchard and packing facilities carefully inspect and select fruit prior to shipment. Beyond supplying high-quality produce, it is essential to verify that the goods are free from quarantine pests of concern to EU countries to facilitate smooth customs clearance. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3554/fourth-industrial-revolution-at-sea-why-technology-adoption-is-real-test-for-sustainable-fisheries.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3554/fourth-industrial-revolution-at-sea-why-technology-adoption-is-real-test-for-sustainable-fisheries.html Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:29:27 +0530 SAFET Executive Director Inga Wise explains how proven ocean technologies, if adopted at scale and tailored to local contexts, could mark a tipping point for sustainable ocean management under the UN Ocean Decade At the midpoint of the UN Ocean Decade, progress toward sustainable fisheries remains uneven—not because of a single missing piece, but due to the need for context-specific combinations of technologies, adoption pathways, and incentives, a challenge SAFET addresses through its SEA-TECH-IN-MOTION mapping tool. In an exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Inga Wise, Executive Director of SAFET, describes the current moment as a “Fourth Industrial Revolution at Sea,” marked by the availability of proven technologies and a critical shift from pilots to real-world adoption. Inga notes that tools such as satellite surveillance, AI-driven behavioral analysis, and in-situ sensors are already demonstrating impact against IUU fishing, though broader deployment is still constrained by structural, economic, and governance barriers. Ultimately, she emphasizes that SAFET’s role is not to dictate priorities or metrics, but to enable informed decision-making by showing how technology can support measurable progress toward established global frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14. At the midpoint of the UN Ocean Decade, progress appears uneven. From SAFET’s vantage point, where is the gap largest today—technology availability, adoption by industry, regulatory alignment, or political will—and what evidence most clearly supports that assessment? From SAFET’s perspective, there is no single gap that, if overcome, will unblock progress. Every context is different, and each situation requires a different solution or combination of technologies to be successful. This is why SAFET’s SEA-TECH-IN-MOTION map exists, to highlight as broad a cross section of solutions in different contexts as possible to enable implementers to find the most relevant parallels to their situation to learn from.  Your report frames this moment as a “Fourth Industrial Revolution at Sea.” What differentiates this technological wave from earlier digitization efforts in fisheries, and why should decision-makers believe this time will deliver systemic change rather than incremental improvements? Whilst the Fourth Industrial Revolution at sea has been building for some time with technologies being developed and tested in various situations, we are now approaching a critical point where there are sufficient proven technologies available and the focus now needs to shift to support regarding adoption. By highlighting where technologies have been most successfully used, SAFET aims to enable faster adoption and reduce the need to reinvent the wheel. Giving potential adopters of solutions examples that relate to their challenges and pathways that relate to their goals enables informed choices that are right for their requirement. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing remains stubbornly pervasive. Which technologies highlighted in the report have demonstrated the strongest real-world impact against IUU fishing, and what structural barriers still prevent their wider deployment? There are a wide range of technologies now in use that have been proven effective against IUU fishing, including satellite surveillance, AI behavioural analysis, in-situ sensors, and many more. To date, many deployments have been of a pilot nature. We are now seeing a more widespread adoption, which in turn will reduce opportunities for IUU catch to enter the supply chain.  SEA-TECH-IN-MOTION emphasizes real-world case studies over theoretical promise. In reviewing deployments globally, what patterns separate successful implementations from those that underperform or stall—and what lessons should governments and industry leaders draw before investing? One of the main lessons we have seen is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.  Each context and challenge area is different and what worked for a technology deployment in one situation may not work in another. Hence, with our new tool, SEA-TECH-IN-MOTION, we provide filters where the viewer can choose desired outcome, species, geographic location, and more to find projects that relate to their needs.  Consumer trust and traceability are central themes, yet mislabeling rates remain high. Is the challenge primarily technological, economic, or cultural within supply chains—and how realistic is full transparency at scale by 2030? The factors contributing to mislabelling vary across seafood supply chains, which are often complex and fragmented. As a result, the challenge is not confined to a single dimension, but reflects an interaction between technological, economic, and cultural elements.Technology can significantly improve traceability by reducing manual data entry, improving data accuracy, and enabling better data sharing across supply chain segments, but it is not sufficient on its own. Its impact depends on consistent use, data quality, and alignment across diverse actors. At the same time, economic and cultural factors — such as incentives, governance, and standardised data sharing practices — shape how effectively technology is integrated into daily operations. Looking to 2030, full transparency at scale represents an ambitious objective, with progress likely to depend on continued alignment across technological, economic, and cultural factors. Sustainability goals often collide with short-term commercial pressures. How can SAFET’s work help align economic incentives for fishers and seafood companies with long-term ecosystem health, particularly in developing coastal economies? We approach this primarily as an independent, information-sharing role rather than as an implementer. Our work focuses on raising awareness of solutions that contribute to broader sustainability goals and on improving understanding of what tools and approaches are available, how they can be adopted, and where they may be most relevant. By bringing together this information in one place, we aim to make it easier for fisheries, seafood companies, and other industry stakeholders to explore options that align operational needs with sustainability concerns. In many cases, it is already clear that some kind of technology solution is required, but it can be difficult to navigate the various options and understand how a given solution relates to the outcomes required. Our work aims to help clarify those options and outcomes, so those seeking solutions can make informed decisions that fit their local context and commercial realities.   The report highlights more than 10 enabling technologies. If forced to prioritize, which two or three technologies should receive immediate global focus—and which widely discussed solutions do you believe are currently overhyped? As an independent organisation, SAFET’s goal is not to prioritise but to provide the information about where and when these technologies have been successfully deployed to support sustainability initiatives. Given that every situation is different, it is more important that implementers have access to the information we gather to find technologies relevant to their own initiatives and make decisions accordingly.  Looking ahead to 2030 and beyond, success will be judged by outcomes, not intent. What specific, measurable changes would convince you that the seafood and fisheries sector has truly crossed a tipping point toward sustainable ocean management? This is a good question, but we would be cautious about defining specific metrics ourselves. Progress toward sustainable ocean management is already framed through established, measurable indicators, particularly those set out under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 14.  The role of SAFET is not to define success, but to highlight how different technologies can contribute to demonstrable progress against these shared frameworks as more implementation examples emerge.  ---- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3519/taiwan-smart-agriweek-2026-to-unveil-smart-solutions-and-technology-for-asian-agricultural-industry.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3519/taiwan-smart-agriweek-2026-to-unveil-smart-solutions-and-technology-for-asian-agricultural-industry.html Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:13:28 +0530 Agri-technology market hub, from 8–10 September 2026 Taiwan Smart Agriweek, one of the leading smart solutions and technology expos for the agricultural industry in Asia, will be held in TaiNEX 1, Taipei , a strategic gateway to Asia’s agri-technology market hub, from 8–10 September 2026. The event brings together innovators and solutions providers—from agriculture and aquaculture farming, animal health and nutrition, processing, distribution, to waste recycling—connecting them with industry stakeholders, including government agencies, industry associations, and research institutions. Building on recent momentum—with over 770 booths, 21,000 visitors from 69 countries, generating USD 88 million in procurement—Taiwan Smart Agriweek continues to attract both local and international audiences, creating a platform to connect, engage and network across Asia’s agricultural sector. A Practical Hub for Smart Agriculture in Asia Known for its strong technology and manufacturing ecosystem, Taiwan is increasingly applying innovation to tackle current farmers' challenges. As the farming workforce continues to age and rising labour shortages, farms are adopting mechanisation, sensors, and automation to improve productivity, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability. This progression is further supported by the government through smart agriculture programmes, including IoT deployment and demonstration initiatives that help farmers test, adapt, and scale new solutions. In addition, subsidy programmes aimed at increasing farmers’ adoption of data-driven farm management, precision irrigation, and environmental monitoring are accelerating technology uptake across agricultural operations. As agri-tech adoption accelerates, Taiwan is emerging as a practical reference point for neighbouring Asian countries—demonstrating how smart agriculture solutions are integrated into daily operations, from AI-based weather monitoring and precision irrigation to feed milling technology, precision nutrition, processing and packaging, and IoT-enabled distribution systems. These developments also create opportunities for overseas companies to engage and connect with potential buyers from local farmers, agribusiness owners, and government officials through government supported programmes and subsidies.  6-in-1 Show for the Full Farm-to-Fork Experience With six focused zones in one event, Taiwan Smart Agriweek offers exhibitors a platform to showcase innovative solutions across the agri-industry ecosystem: AGRITECH — Smart Farming Systems; Agriculture IoT; Agricultural Big Data; Smart Greenhouse Systems; Labour-saving Farm Machinery AGRILIVESTOCK & FEED — Smart Livestock Farming Systems & Equipment; Precision Feeding Equipment; Alternative Proteins & New Feed Ingredients AQUATECH — Smart Aquaculture Systems; Aquafeed & Additives, Aquatic Seedlings; Cage Aquaculture Technology; Water Quality Management Equipment AGRIFRESH — Smart Postharvest Processing Technologies; Cold Storage Warehousing; Smart Grading and Sorting Systems; Smart Cold Chain Energy-Saving Technology AGRIGREEN — Organic Farming; Agricultural Waste Recycling; Carbon Sequestration and Emission Reduction; Renewable Energy for Agriculture AGRIFOOD — Local Agri-food Excellence; Food Innovations; Functional Food & Nutrition; Sustainable Food  Combined with on-site forums and collaborations with key institutions, associations, and government bodies, the event will bring together 100+ industry experts and key players to share insights on current market trends and opportunities that are shaping the future of farming. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3509/from-additives-to-spices-cac48-redraws-rules-of-global-food-trade.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3509/from-additives-to-spices-cac48-redraws-rules-of-global-food-trade.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:50:16 +0530 Codex and FAO officials detail how updated standards aim to protect consumers without triggering disproportionate trade disruption for export-dependent economies In an exclusive Agrospectrum and NUFFOODS Spectrum interview with global food-standards leaders — Sarah Cahill, Codex Secretary; Lingping Zhang, Food Standards Officer, Codex Secretariat; Markus Lipp, Senior Food Safety Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); Gracia Brisco, Food Standards Officer, Codex Secretariat; and Hilde Kruse, Senior Food Standards Officer, Codex Secretariat — CAC48 emerges as a decisive moment for Codex amid rising geopolitical fragmentation. The experts reaffirm Codex’s science-based, consensus-driven mandate, which shaped major reforms including additive reviews, aflatoxin updates, pesticide-residue reference guidelines and new maximum lead levels for spices. They underline how improved Codes of Practice, surveillance support and harmonised quality parameters enable consumer protection while minimising trade disruption for export-reliant economies. Looking ahead, they highlight the Codex Strategic Plan 2026–2031, which places digital traceability, climate-risk foresight, and advanced analytical technologies at the core of modernising global food safety governance. Edited excerpts; Codex at a Geopolitical Crossroads The 48th Session saw critical standards adopted across additives, contaminants, and fresh-produce quality. At a time when food systems face geopolitical fragmentation, supply-chain shocks, and rising protectionism, how does Codex ensure these standards remain science-led, globally harmonized, and insulated from political pressure? The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is a Member-driven body with its commitment to a science-based approach to standard setting enshrined in its procedures. Its work is guided by its strategic goals, and its core values of collaboration, inclusiveness, consensus building and transparency. Codex texts are the benchmark for food safety under the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and are relevant to the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) where WTO members refer to harmonization with international standards such as the Codex Alimentarius for food-related issues such as labelling. Codex standards play an important role in addressing specific trade concerns or for dispute settlement cases. Wherever you are, whatever you do, safe food is an everyday need. And it is a global commodity. These aspects are integral to every discussion in the Codex Alimentarius Commission. “Together” was also the theme of CAC48, which served to highlight that when it comes to food safety and quality it is only by working together that we can effectively and efficiently ensure food is safe and of good quality.  The GSFA Overhaul: Science, Safety, and Consumer Trust More than 500 food additive provisions were reviewed, leading to revocations and new inclusions. What principles guided the reassessment—particularly for colourants like annatto extracts—and how does FAO ensure regulators and industry transition smoothly to these updated provisions without disrupting product availability or trade flows? All Codex work is conducted following approval by CAC. Thus, the decision for reassessment was taken by Members. In the case of annatto extracts, this decision was based on: The need to align the General standard for food additives with relevant sections of commodity standards. In this case, for example, there was a need to align with the Standard for fermented milks, which does not provide for the addition of annatto extracts in plain milk. Codex texts are developed through consensus by all its Members in a deliberate manner that often spans a timeframe of several years. The national Codex contact points serve as a primary node to disseminate all applicable information to national stakeholders. In addition, FAO provides support when requested by Member Countries to strengthen national Codex structures, thereby enhancing national capabilities in disseminating all relevant Codex texts to national stakeholders. Aflatoxins in Peanuts: New Science, New Responsibilities The revised Code of Practice on aflatoxins integrates updated agronomic science, maturity-stage tables, and roasting effects. How will FAO help producing countries—especially smallholder-dependent economies—translate these best practices into field-level change? Are new surveillance, extension, or capacity-building mechanisms planned? FAO stays ready to support its members needs and will respond to requests by its members for additional capacity building measures correspondingly. FAO and Codex furthermore have published numerous guidance documents, codes of practice and related texts that is publicly available, ready to be used by any other organization that would like to use this information in order to support producers of peanuts. Lead Limits in Spices: Balancing Public Health and Trade facilitation With new maximum levels now set for dried bark (cinnamon) and culinary herbs, exporting nations such as —India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia—face compliance pressure. How does Codex balance the dual mandate of protecting consumers health while ensuring fair practices in trade, in this case, preventing trade disruptions for economies reliant on spice exports? The mandate to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in the food trade is the statutory purpose of CAC. This means that, when it comes to food safety standards such as maximum levels for contaminants in foods, CAC will not establish more stringent measures than necessary to protect consumers health so that the measures themselves do not become a technical barrier to trade which may then translate in trade disruption that may impact economic growth and ultimately food security.   Although spices and culinary herbs are consumed in small amounts, as opposed to other foods, it remains important to assess the safety of lead levels in these foods due to the impact of lead toxicity on human health that may include neurodevelopmental effects such as decreases in Intelligence Quota (IQ) and attention span in children, impaired renal function, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, impaired fertility, and adverse pregnancy outcomes and therefore the ALARA continued to apply when CCCF discusses risk management considerations related to health and trade so that while ensuring the safety of the food, this does not imply high rejections rate of lot consignments, at import control point. CCCF does provide support to Codex Members to enable them to comply with MLs, by developing codes of practice, a compendium of risk management measures and practices to assist in reducing food contamination, in this case CAC40 adopted in 2017 the Code of practice for the prevention and reduction of mycotoxins in spices (CXC 78-2017). FAO does have a role to play in assisting countries with the implementation of the CoP, helping them to identify specific risk management measures that may not be included in the CoP, as they are usually overarching texts, that can complement the measures applicable worldwide that are described in these CoPs. The Codex Alimentarius Commission has now adopted MLs for lead in spices and culinary herbs, specifically, dried bark (cinnamon) and dried culinary herbs. The MLs are 2.5 mg/kg for lead in spices, dried bark and 2.0 mg/kg for lead in culinary herbs, dried and will now be added to the General Standard for contaminants and toxins in food and feed (CXS 193-1995).  Pesticide Reference Materials: A Quiet but Critical Reform The guidelines allowing extended use of pesticide reference materials beyond labelled expiry dates could significantly reduce laboratory costs and waste. What drove this reform? And how does FAO envision it strengthening residue monitoring systems in low- and middle-income countries where testing infrastructure remains limited? Pesticide residues in food are a subject of particular concern for consumers and in the food trade. To ensure the safety of food, the regulation of pesticide use, and relevant residues, must be enforced and guaranteed. Part of the process of testing for pesticide residues relies on laboratories being able to access what are known as reference materials, or RMs. But these are costly and sold with 2-to-5-year short-term expiry dates, though there is no requirement to find maximum shelf life. This can force laboratories to buy new RMs more frequently than potentially necessary. This leads to additional work and additional costs, and that can hinder how much testing can be done.  The Codex Alimentarius Commission has now adopted guidelines that provide a scientifically sound framework to monitor the purity and stability of reference materials under defined conditions, which, if implemented correctly, may allow continued use of RMs beyond their expiry date - where purity remains within acceptable limits. This reduces recurring costs, minimizes waste, and ensures confidence in the reliability of pesticide residue analysis.  The work on the development of guidelines for monitoring the purity and stability of reference materials of pesticides during prolonged storage commenced at CCPR51 in 2019, when some delegations expressed concerns regarding the limitation of the use of reference materials beyond the expiry date, leading to significant recurring costs for laboratories. As chair of the electronic working group (EWG), India led the work to develop these guidelines. FAO stays ready to support its members needs and will respond to requests by its members for additional capacity building measures correspondingly.  Read more about this work in the 2025 edition of the CODEX magazine   Standard for Fresh Dates: Trade Enablement for Climate-Stressed Regions The new standard comes after a decade of negotiations and is deeply important for date-producing regions across the Middle East and North Africa. How will harmonized quality parameters—size, colour, uniformity, defects—reshape global trade? Can such standards help climate-stressed producers secure better prices in high-value retail markets ? By adopting the new Standard for fresh dates, Codex Members now have an international reference that provides the baseline for international trade of this commodity upon which trading partners can agree on additional quality provisions based on their consumers’ preferences. For producing countries, this opens up trade possibilities across the globe, which, in many cases, will support the livelihoods of small producers, bolster economies and provide a safe, good quality product for consumers worldwide. Castilla Lulo (Naranjilla): Regional Standards as a Strategic Tool This new regional standard reflects the fruit’s cultural importance and emerging trade value in Latin America. What criteria does Codex use to decide when a product merits a regional rather than global standard? And do regional standards serve as testbeds for potential future global adoption? When considering new work proposed by FAO/WHO regional coordinating committees, CAC considers, amongst other things, whether the new work is justified on the grounds that the product in question is significantly traded intraregionally and that there is no significant trade between or within other regions When a commodity for which there is a regional standard, sees increased trade at a global level, the coordinating committee concerned, or a Member, can propose extension of the territorial application of the standard. This involves new work, which has to be approved by CAC. CAC48 approved, for example, new work on converting the Regional standard for laver products (Asia) to a worldwide standard, work that will be carried out by the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (CCFFP). The Next Frontier: Modernizing Codex for a New Era of Food Risks From AI-driven food systems to precision fermentation, novel ingredients, and climate-linked contaminants, food safety risks are evolving faster than many national regulatory systems. What are FAO’s top priorities for modernizing Codex over the next decade? How will future standards incorporate digital traceability, climate risk modelling, and new analytical technologies? FAO is a parent organization of Codex, together with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, work prioritization in Codex is the remit of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. CAC47 adopted the Codex strategic plan 2026–2031 and CAC48 its monitoring framework. The purpose of the Codex strategic plan and its renewal and renegotiation every five years is to ensure that Codex work is aimed at achieving the most appropriate objectives. FAO has a very long-standing tradition to inform the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its subsidiary bodies with all relevant information to facilitate forward looking workplanning. FAO continues to offer its support to all its members and the members of the Codex Alimentarius Commission to assist in national capacity building activities to strengthen food control systems, food safety governance and all related aspects. The new strategic plan has as its first Strategic Goal to: Respond to Members’ needs for protecting the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in the food trade in an evolving global landscape, by developing science-based standards and related texts 1.1 Foresight and horizon-scanning activities are used to support the identification of issues likely to impact food safety, quality and trade. 1.2 Scientific advice that addresses the needs identified by CAC and its subsidiary bodies is primarily provided by FAO and WHO and their joint scientific advisory bodies, informed by globally representative data and appropriate international expertise and methodology. 1.3 Scientific advice is used by CAC and subsidiary bodies in line with Codex risk analysis principles. 1.4 Codex standards and related texts are developed, reviewed and adopted in a timely, transparent and inclusive manner. Thus, with reference to FAO’s foresight programme ( https://www.fao.org/food-safety/scientific-advice/foresight/en/ ), Codex will aim to keep ahead of emerging trends Codex work is already addressing some of the key emerging issues and adapting based on Members’ priorities: Digital traceability is already a key topic of discussion in the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS), and work is ongoing to develop texts for the digitalization of national food control systems. CAC47 adopted the Codex Committee on Food Labelling’s (CCFL’s) Guidelines on the provision of food information for pre-packaged foods to be offered via e-commerce New food sources and production systems have been discussed extensively in Codex in recent years. In this context several areas of new work are under discussion which will help define how codex addresses this emerging area moving forward. Changing climate is also impacting food safety and this is also impacting the standard setting work of Codex. For example, the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF) elaborated and CAC47 adopted the Code of practice for the prevention or reduction of ciguatera poisoning, in response to the evolving nature of this issue, which is related to climate factors. The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene developed and CAC46 adopted Guidelines for the safe use and reuse of water in food production and processing in response to Members concerns about the need to ensure that in the context of water resource challenges, the safety of food was not negatively impacted. There is a continued emphasis, particularly within CCCF, on the issue of mycotoxins, the threat of which is evolving and possibly expanding as climate factors change. —---- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3489/taiwan-and-somaliland-sign-agricultural-implementing-arrangement-for-2026-2030.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3489/taiwan-and-somaliland-sign-agricultural-implementing-arrangement-for-2026-2030.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:20:41 +0530 Builds on existing partnerships and expands the scale of agricultural initiatives with increased financial support Taiwan’s Representative to Somaliland, Ambassador Allen Lou, has expressed delight in signing the Agricultural Implementing Arrangement for 2026-2030, marking a significant step forward in bilateral cooperation between Taiwan and Somaliland. The new agreement signed with Somaliland’s Agriculture Minister Mohamoud builds on existing partnerships and expands the scale of agricultural initiatives with increased financial support. It aligns closely with Somaliland’s Vision 2030, the National Development Plan III, and the National Seed Development Policy, while contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of Zero Hunger. The new agreement signed with Somaliland’s Agriculture Minister Mohamoud Ige Yusuf builds on existing partnerships and expands the scale of agricultural initiatives with increased financial support. It aligns closely with Somaliland’s Vision 2030, the National Development Plan III, and the National Seed Development Policy, while contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of Zero Hunger. At the heart of the project is the enhancement of Somaliland’s seed system – identified as a fundamental pillar of the country’s food security framework. The initiative includes the establishment of a new demonstration farm, envisioned as a central agricultural development hub. This hub aims to drive momentum in food security, climate change resilience, and broader agricultural transformation across Somaliland. “Food is our common language, and building climate resilience is our common goal,” Ambassador Lou stated. “Let’s work together to promote the Right to Food for a better life and a better future in Somaliland and throughout the Horn of Africa.” The signing underscores Taiwan’s long-standing commitment to supporting Somaliland’s sustainable development, particularly in agriculture, as part of efforts to foster self-reliance and regional stability. This collaboration is expected to benefit farmers, strengthen local food systems, and enhance resilience against climate challenges in the region. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3466/taiwans-megago-tech-accelerates-smart-farming-innovation-in-japan-with-autonomous-technologies.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3466/taiwans-megago-tech-accelerates-smart-farming-innovation-in-japan-with-autonomous-technologies.html Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:57:53 +0530 Introducing vehicle autonomy and green energy applications into smart farming As Japan enters a super-aged society, the agricultural sector is facing a serious decline in its workforce. To address the issue of labor shortages in agriculture, Taiwan-based Megago Tech has leveraged its extensive experience in autonomous driving technology to introduce vehicle autonomy and green energy applications into smart farming. The company developed an Intelligent Autonomous Electric Mower, upgrading traditional mowers with smart automation. The mower operates without human intervention, significantly reducing time and labor costs while efficiently completing large-scale mowing tasks. Megago Tech recently showcased this innovation at J-AGRI TOKYO 2025. The exhibited Intelligent Autonomous Electric Mower features autonomous navigation, environmental sensing, and smart charging capabilities. Its self-driving navigation system integrates Electric Power Steering (EPS), GPS, and multi-sensor positioning technologies, enabling it to plan routes and complete large mowing operations autonomously. Equipped with LiDAR-based environmental sensing and obstacle avoidance, the mower can identify obstacles in real time and adjust its path to ensure operational safety. In addition, it comes with a remote management and data platform that allows users to monitor work areas, progress, and power usage, further enhancing operational efficiency. With years of dedication to autonomous driving technology, Megago Tech has accumulated extensive R&D experience in smart driving systems. The company focuses on EPS integration and continues to develop customized applications such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). By combining sensors, radars, cameras, and AI algorithms, these solutions enable real-time environmental awareness, helping reduce driving risks and enhance safety across transportation sectors including buses, coaches, logistics vehicles, and electric vessels. In recent years, Megago Tech has extended its autonomous technology to agricultural applications, offering customized steering control systems for tractors, transport vehicles, rice harvesters, and other machinery requiring precise maneuvering. Looking ahead, Megago Tech will continue advancing smart agriculture technologies with autonomous driving as its core, promoting automation and intelligence across farming operations. Beyond addressing Japan's agricultural labor shortages, the integration of autonomous navigation and intelligent sensing enhances efficiency, precision, and safety, while reducing manual workload. Guided by the vision of "Smart Driving for Sustainability," Megago Tech aims to create a comprehensive smart agriculture ecosystem that connects field operations with agricultural logistics—driving the industry toward a greener, smarter, and net-zero future ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3472/taiwan-leads-collaborative-efforts-for-equitable-carbon-credits-and-sustainable-rural-development-in-asia.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3472/taiwan-leads-collaborative-efforts-for-equitable-carbon-credits-and-sustainable-rural-development-in-asia.html Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:49:00 +0530 Major progress in positioning Taiwan’s rural landscapes as climate solutions: Sorghum rotation supports biodiversity, strengthens soil carbon sequestration, and contributes to long-term landscape resilience As global attention intensifies ahead of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), Taiwan's Syuejia District’s sorghum contract-farming program has announced major progress in positioning Taiwan’s rural landscapes as climate solutions. The Syuejia Plain in Tainan, once part of the historic Tao-Feng Inland Sea and now a coastal agricultural region, is a key area for climate adaptation and sustainable rural development in Asia. Traditionally reliant on garlic and shallot farming, the region faces soil challenges like low organic matter, poor water and nutrient retention, and compaction, which impact carbon stability. Improving soil aggregate structure is crucial for enhancing long-term carbon sequestration. The initiative aligns with the Global Declaration for Equitable and Ethical Carbon Credit Practices: An Action Framework for Caring for Our Common Home, which calls for just, transparent, and community-centered approaches to carbon credit development. Syuejia’s model is also aligned with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and the high standards of the UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The Syuejia Farmers’ Association is committed not only to generating high-quality carbon credits but also to ensuring that revenue is directly returned to participating farmers, reinforcing fairness and justice in rural climate-market participation. This farmer-centered approach strengthens trust, enhances social sustainability, and provides a pathway for rural regeneration. With its distinctive combination of traditional Asian farming knowledge, scientific monitoring, and UN-aligned governance, Syuejia is positioning itself as a new model for climate-ready rural landscapes in Asia. As climate change accelerates and global carbon markets evolve, Syuejia’s sorghum initiative stands as a milestone in advancing ecological restoration, rural economic resilience, and community-driven carbon sequestration in Taiwan and beyond. Prof. Yen-Hsun Su added that findings from this on-site investigation will be submitted to UN agencies as an exemplar of integrating ecological conservation, agricultural production, community livelihoods, and carbon management within Asian rural contexts. Dr. Chen-Pio Yen of the New Agriculture Cooperative highlighted that Syuejia demonstrates how local governments, academic institutions, farmers’ associations, and farming communities can co-create a world-class sustainability model. The collaborative approach offers a replicable and verifiable framework for climate adaptation and mitigation, particularly relevant during the global climate discussions at COP30. New Agriculture Cooperative evaluate ecological outcomes: Syuejia District Chief Ming-Pao Chang and Syuejia Farmers' Association General Manager Hsiao-Chun Lee, along with the UNU-IAS/IPSI-endorsed Satoyama Mace Initiative research team led by Prof. Yen-Hsun Su of National Cheng Kung University and the New Agriculture Cooperative led by Dr. Chen-Pio Yen, conducted a field investigation in Syuejia this week. The visit aimed to evaluate ecological outcomes and assess the long-term carbon benefits of the initiative. General Manager Hsiao-Chun Lee explained that the Farmers’ Association has partnered with Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor Inc. for many years to promote sorghum rotation and contract farming. This approach significantly reduces methane emissions, enhances soil carbon stocks, and strengthens regional climate resilience. Despite delays caused by the extended maize harvests this year, the sorghum program maintained a stable operational scale of 736 hectares across the Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan regions. Sorghum has thus emerged as a climate-adaptive and economically viable crop for farmers facing shifting environmental conditions. District Chief Ming-Pao Chang emphasized that Syuejia is not only an agricultural production zone but represents a Social-Ecological Production Landscape and Seascape (SEPLS) that integrates ecology, livelihood, and production. During carbon assessments conducted in summer 2024, researchers confirmed that sorghum rotation supports biodiversity, strengthens soil carbon sequestration, and contributes to long-term landscape resilience. “By enhancing the quality and value of carbon credits, we aim to increase farmers’ income while achieving a triple-win vision of ecological conservation, improved livelihoods, and sustainable production.” siad Chang. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3418/taiwan-unveils-draft-circular-economy-roadmap-eyes-deeper-collaboration-with-southeast-asia.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3418/taiwan-unveils-draft-circular-economy-roadmap-eyes-deeper-collaboration-with-southeast-asia.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:43:33 +0530 As Taiwan accelerates in circular industries, the test for Southeast Asia is whether the region can align with the island’s new circular economy roadmap fast enough to unlock advantages in cross-border trade.Taiwan is sharpening its long-term vision for a more resource-efficient, low-waste future, unveiling a new draft blueprint that outlines how the island plans to scale up circular economy solutions across industries.  A circular economy minimises waste by keeping materials in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair and recycling. Governments and businesses worldwide are turning to circular models that reduce dependence on constant extraction and cut the amount of rubbish sent to landfills or incinerators. “Taiwan aims to become the hub of the circular economy in Asia,” said the island’s environment minister Chi-Ming Peng at Asia Pacific Circular Economy Roundtable & Hotspot (APCER) on 22 October, where the draft roadmap, formally titled the 2050 Taiwan Circular Economy Roadmap, was released. The roadmap, slated for finalisation in 2026, sets long-term targets to double resource productivity, cut per-capita material use by about 30 per cent and increase the island’s circularity rate to 2.5 times its 2020 level, while outlining reforms in eco-design, circular procurement and innovation to shift the country from waste management toward a full resource-circulation system. “Circular economy is highly localised yet not something that can be done by one country alone,” said Peng who emphasised the importance of regional collaboration. Taiwan has made the circular economy a central part of its long-term sustainability agenda, saying the shift is critical for an island with limited natural resources and one of the world’s most export-dependent industrial bases.  Officials argue that circular systems can reduce reliance on imported raw materials, lower waste-management pressures and improve the resilience of supply chains that support sectors such as semiconductors, petrochemicals and machinery. The government has expanded recycling rules, introduced extended-producer-responsibility schemes and funded pilot programmes in remanufacturing, industrial symbiosis and eco-design. It has also promoted collaboration between local manufacturers and multinational brands under growing pressure to cut emissions and shrink the environmental footprint of their products.  Taipei says stronger circularity can give Taiwanese companies a competitive edge as global buyers demand lower-carbon, resource-efficient goods. Stephanie Downes, Asia-Pacific executive director at the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), said Taiwan’s roadmap could position the island as “a new reference point for circular economy standards in Asia”, offering a policy anchor similar to the European Union but with a stronger focus on practical collaboration and technology sharing.  She added that Taiwan may provide a more relatable set of benchmarks for Asean countries, given the similar environmental pressures and resource challenges faced across the region. Many Taiwanese supply chains run through Asean, and officials say aligning circular standards across the region, such as improving waste segregation, developing cross-border recycling infrastructure and adopting closed-loop production, would reduce pollution and strengthen regional industrial ties.  Taiwan has been steadily building the foundations for regional cooperation through its New Southbound Policy, launched in 2016, to deepen trade and diplomatic ties with Southeast Asia.  The policy encourages Taiwanese firms to assess market needs across Asean and invest in local resource, capital and technology gaps. It has also led to the establishment of Taiwan External Trade Development Council offices in eight Asean countries, creating channels for two-way investment and market access. Alice Chou, vice president of the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, said Taiwan’s circular-economy ambitions will only succeed overseas if they are adapted to local conditions. “There’s a need to adapt to local population needs and government policies,” she said, noting that advanced technologies alone will not guarantee uptake. Analysts believe Taiwanese industries that already comply with extended-producer-responsibility rules may become early movers in seeking circular partnerships in Southeast Asia. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3240/taiwan-launches-floriculture-industry-innovation-center.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3240/taiwan-launches-floriculture-industry-innovation-center.html Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:59:51 +0530 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. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3234/taiwan-indonesia-policy-and-food-security-dialogues-strengthen-agricultural-cooperation.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3234/taiwan-indonesia-policy-and-food-security-dialogues-strengthen-agricultural-cooperation.html Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:33:05 +0530 Preliminary agreements were reached to expand market access for agricultural products and strengthen trade cooperation. Taiwan and Indonesia recently concluded the 5th Taiwan-Indonesia Agricultural Cooperation Consultation Meeting in Taipei, reinforcing their agricultural partnership under the 2016 Taiwan-Indonesia Agricultural Cooperation Agreement. The meeting focused on agricultural policy, market access, and broader cooperation, with a particular emphasis on addressing food security challenges intensified by climate change. Both nations agreed to enhance agricultural resilience through technological collaboration and talent development, aiming to ensure stable food supplies. An Indonesian agricultural delegation toured food industry operations in Changhua and Yilan from August 29 to 30, gaining insights into Taiwan's agricultural practices. They also met with young Indonesian farmers interning in Taiwan, highlighting the tangible outcomes of bilateral cooperation. Indonesia is a key partner under Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, which seeks to deepen ties with Southeast Asian nations. Since the signing of the agricultural cooperation agreement, the two countries have collaborated to promote agricultural technology, talent exchanges, and industry development. The latest meeting is expected to strengthen future agricultural ties between Taiwan and Indonesia, paving the way for enhanced cooperation and mutual benefits. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3186/taiwans-sun-fresh-vegetable-to-pioneer-smart-cold-chain-logistics-integrated-with-prevention-agriculture.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3186/taiwans-sun-fresh-vegetable-to-pioneer-smart-cold-chain-logistics-integrated-with-prevention-agriculture.html Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:01:12 +0530 Partners with JH Biotech to promote a sustainable agricultural model with crop health management technologies JH Biotech, Inc., a U.S.-based leader in sustainable crop solutions, has cracked a strategic partnership with Taiwan’s premier cold-chain agricultural enterprise, Sun Fresh Vegetable Co., Ltd. The two companies will jointly promote a sustainable agricultural model centered on the principle of “prevention first,” combining smart cold chain logistics with crop health management technologies to create a fully integrated farm-to-table ecosystem. The partnership was launched with a formal signing ceremony on the third day of the exhibition. Dr. Hsinhung John Hsu, President of JH Biotech, Inc., and Mr. Easy Tsai, Chairman of Sun Fresh, attended the event and signed a memorandum of understanding. This marks the beginning of multifaceted cooperation between the two companies—from agricultural input application and smart supply chain integration to traceability and pest and disease prevention—realizing the shared vision of advancing both smart agriculture and prevention-based farming in Taiwan. Prevention First: Managing Risks from Field to MarketIn recent years, JH Biotech has been actively promoting the concept of Prevention Agriculture, which strengthens crop resistance to pests and diseases using biological products, nutritional enhancement, and immune activation. These measures help reduce pesticide use while improving food safety and crop quality. This partnership with Sun Fresh recognizes its outstanding capabilities in produce sourcing, traceability certification, cold chain processing, and supply chain data management. Sun Fresh has developed a fully integrated system—from contract farming and product inspection to low-temperature processing and cold logistics—supplying dozens of vegetable and fruit varieties to major retailers and supermarkets across Taiwan. In 2024, Sun Fresh launched its own consumer brand, “Good Food Picks,” to strengthen awareness and accessibility of safe produce. JH Biotech stated that the partnership will focus on developing integrated prevention management plans tailored to specific regions and crops. Contract growers under Sun Fresh will adopt JH Biotech’s biological and nutritional crop protection programs from early cultivation stages, supported by field technical services and a data tracking system. Sun Fresh will handle backend safety verification, product grading, and cold-chain logistics to ensure consistent product quality throughout the supply chain. This partnership goes beyond collaboration between agricultural leaders, showcasing Taiwan's shift from a production-driven agricultural model to one focused on risk prevention and quality consistency. The collaboration aims to expand into additional contract farming regions, establish demonstration sites, and create education centers to promote the adoption of "smart + preventive" cultivation systems. The collaboration represents a significant step in Taiwan's journey toward smart and sustainable agricultural development. By combining the strengths of JH Biotech and Sun Fresh, the vision of preventing pest outbreaks and ensuring product safety before packaging is steadily becoming a reality. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3136/taiwans-agro-greening-and-group-gain-partners-with-jh-biotech-to-form-a-new-international-model-of-prevention-agriculture.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/3136/taiwans-agro-greening-and-group-gain-partners-with-jh-biotech-to-form-a-new-international-model-of-prevention-agriculture.html Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:16:56 +0530 Prevention and Smart Agriculture Alliance, aiming to localize R&D, promote field demonstrations, and implement prevention agriculture practices across regions JH Biotech, Inc. (USA) announced its official alliance with two leading Taiwanese agricultural input companies—Agro Greening Modern Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. and Group Gain Bio-Agri Co., Ltd.—to join the global initiative led by the International Prevention Agriculture Institute (IPAI). Together, the three parties have established a new nonprofit organization in Taiwan, the International Prevention and Smart Agriculture Alliance, aiming to localize R&D, promote field demonstrations, and implement prevention agriculture practices across regions. This marks a critical milestone in building a cross-national, locally rooted strategy for future farming. In the Asia-Pacific region, JH Biotech, Agro Greening, and Group Gain have now become core members of the IPAI Alliance. In Taiwan, Central America, and Southeast Asia, the partnership will focus on prevention agriculture demonstration fields, trial programs, and educational outreach. Toward a Global Prevention Agriculture Alliance: Enhancing Agricultural Resilience: In recent years, IPAI has been committed to establishing a global framework for prevention agriculture, emphasizing three core strategies: Soil health, Crop immune-nutrition, and Biological pest and disease management.This new alliance not only strengthens the integration of R&D resources but also marks the first time that localized technologies from Asia have been incorporated into a global prevention agriculture system through a formal alliance structure—a significant step forward. JH Biotech brings nearly 40 years of experience in crop protection and biostimulant development. AgroGreening specializing in the development of botanical pesticides and dedicated to integrated pest management, while Group Gain specializes in the development and application of biological control materials. Under the coordination of IPAI, the three companies will collaborate on key initiatives including: Establishment of prevention agriculture demonstration zones in Taiwan and Central America Development of a verification framework aligned with ESG sustainability standards Joint product development for region-specific pest and disease risks Construction of a shared data platform and localized training programs Local Action, Global Standards: Bridging Innovation Across Borders Dr. Hsu Hsin-Hung, President of JH Biotech, stated: "The value of prevention agriculture is not simply replacing pesticides—it’s about offering proactive, site-specific solutions before risks emerge. We are honored to join IPAI with Agro Greening and Group Gain, bringing Asian innovation to a global stage while ensuring real-world impact across diverse farming systems." Hsiao Fu-Hou, Manager of Agro Greening, added: "In Taiwan, more farmers are shifting toward preventive crop management, but there is still a lack of systematic frameworks and support networks. As an IPAI partner, we aim to establish a professional advisory team and regional training centers to support practical implementation and on-farm validation." Chang Po-Ho, Chairman of Group Gain, emphasized: "Group Gain has dedicated recent years to developing biological pest and disease control products. This partnership elevates our efforts from stand-alone products to integrated, system-based solutions." From Innovation to Education: Shaping the Future of Sustainable Agriculture Additionally, the three partners announced plans to co-host the Prevention Agriculture Forum with IPAI starting in 2026 and launch the Journal of Prevention Agriculture, which will serve as a foundational resource for regional training and policy advocacy. Furthermore, a Prevention Agriculture Youth Training Program will connect universities and local farms to cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders. Taiwan's role in prevention agriculture is reinforced by this alliance between JH Biotech, Agro Greening, and Group Gain, which also demonstrates Taiwan's dual power of outward linkage and inward cultivation in agri-tech. The formation of this international alliance sets the foundation for a more resilient and sustainable future for agriculture as climate risks and market demands rise. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2978/philippine-spotlights-cutting-edge-developments-in-smart-agriculture-at-innovex-2025-in-taiwan.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2978/philippine-spotlights-cutting-edge-developments-in-smart-agriculture-at-innovex-2025-in-taiwan.html Fri, 30 May 2025 10:22:51 +0530 Philippine modernized agriculture showcased cutting-edge developments in smart agriculture, food technology, robotics, e-commerce, and more Philippines Department of Agriculture-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS) proudly led the Philippine delegation to InnoVEX 2025, Asia's leading startup showcase, held May 20 to 23 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center to promote Filipino innovation in agriculture. A modernized Philippine agriculture, one that employs innovation and new technologies to increase output and yield to ensure food security, can be achieved by exposing young Filipino farmers to the global stage. The Philippines played a central role in this year's event, featuring cutting-edge developments in smart agriculture, food technology, robotics, e-commerce, and more. As part of the Department of Agriculture's flagship program that empowers youth-led agribusiness ventures, three standout winners of the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) flew the flag for the country. With their homegrown, high-tech solutions designed to transform the agriculture sector, they wowed international audiences at the bustling Philippine Pavilion. “These agri-tech startups are just a glimpse of the nearly 4,000 youth-led enterprises we’ve supported through YFC,” said DA Assistant Secretary Atty. Genevieve E. Velicaria-Guevarra. “From capital grants to mentoring and global promotion, we’re investing in young innovators who are driving real change in Philippine agriculture.” The Filipino startups at InnoVEX 2025 included: – Engr. Arvin John Tejeros, founder of iCarus Agritech, who introduced an AI-powered egg incubator that fine-tunes temperature and humidity for better hatch rates; – Engr. Chester Turingan, founder of Chaptu Farm, who showcased a Smart Brooder Technology that simulates ideal environments for healthier chicks; – John Carlo Landayan, founder of Innovsmarter Agri Services, who presented a digital platform combining precision farming, sustainability tools, and smart analytics to boost farm productivity. Their participation drew high praise from leaders in the Philippine economic and trade community. “As we modernize our agriculture sector, engaging with Taiwan’s vibrant tech ecosystem is a game-changer,” said Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Chairperson Cheloy E. Velicaria Garafil. “There’s tremendous potential to co-create impactful, future-ready solutions across sectors like food tech, robotics, logistics, and more.” ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2921/taiwan-promotes-a-domestic-peanut-drying-center-to-demonstrate-new-integrated-processing-methods.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2921/taiwan-promotes-a-domestic-peanut-drying-center-to-demonstrate-new-integrated-processing-methods.html Mon, 19 May 2025 12:44:40 +0530 Dryer is equipped with automatic control and energy-saving design which can process 12.5 metric tons of fresh pods at a time In order to implement the policy of automated production of domestic grains, the Tainan District Agricultural Improvement Station of the Ministry of Agriculture actively promotes the establishment of a demonstration site for the "Domestic Peanut Post-Harvest Drying Center", integrating the soil removal, weed removal and circular drying operations after the peanuts are harvested from the field to create a consistent mechanical processing system. The demonstration was held on May 16 at the Lihao Peanut Farm in Fuchao Village, Tuku Township, Yunlin County. Relevant industry players, production and marketing groups, and farmers are invited to participate and learn about the technological achievements on the spot. Tainan Farm Director Chen Yuchu pointed out that the annual peanut planting area in Taiwan is about 16,000 to 18,000 hectares, with Yunlin County being the largest producing area, accounting for more than 70% of Taiwan's total production. Although mechanized outsourcing has been introduced for field preparation, sowing, and harvesting, the post-harvest drying process still relies on artificial sun exposure. Faced with problems such as aging labor, insufficient exposure sites, and traffic disputes and dust pollution caused by road exposure, these problems have become a major bottleneck restricting the sustainable development of the industry. To solve this problem, the Ministry of Agriculture has commissioned the Tainan Agricultural Research and Development Center and industry-academia collaboration to develop domestic drying equipment in recent years. Finally, in 2011, they successfully developed the "Circulating Peanut Dryer" and passed the agricultural machinery performance test. The dryer is equipped with automatic control and energy-saving design. It can process 12.5 metric tons of fresh pods at a time. The drying time only takes 2.5 to 3.5 days. Each machine can serve approximately 20 hectares of fields, saving more than 300 man-days of manpower each season, effectively improving drying efficiency and production safety.  Director Chen further explained that the farm is currently guiding the establishment of a unified demonstration site for the Lihao peanuts, introducing automatic processing machinery such as soil removal, stem removal, drying and unloading, to achieve standardization and refinement of post-harvest processing. This not only solves the manpower and site problems of traditional sun exposure, but also greatly reduces the risks of being affected by climate and pollution, ensuring food safety quality and stable supply of contracted products. It is of great significance, especially in reducing the risk of aflatoxin pollution, reducing traffic safety disputes and rural operation conflicts. The Tainan Agricultural Innovation Station emphasized that it will continue to promote the peanut contract farming and drying center policy in the future, promote standardized mechanical operation processes through cooperation between industry, government, and academia, attract young farmers to return to production, establish a modern grain processing demonstration system, and lay a solid foundation for the domestic peanut industry to move towards sustainable development. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2917/basfs-oase-blue-backs-ccat-in-carbon-capture-project-at-taiwanese-power-plant.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2917/basfs-oase-blue-backs-ccat-in-carbon-capture-project-at-taiwanese-power-plant.html Fri, 16 May 2025 11:15:24 +0530 Pilot Plant at Taipower’s Taichung Facility to Capture 2,000 Tons of CO₂ Annually in Initial Phase BASF has entered into a license agreement with Carbon Cap Applications Technology Co. (CCAT) to supply its OASE blue gas treatment technology for a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project at the Taichung Power Plant’s Carbon Reduction Technology Park, operated by Taiwan Power Company (Taipower), the country’s largest electricity provider. This collaboration merges BASF’s proven flue gas treatment technology with CCAT’s engineering expertise to support Taiwan’s first commercial CCS demonstration project. The pilot, launched in late 2023, aims to capture 2,000 tons of CO₂ annually in its initial phase. Pending successful results, Taipower plans to explore a large-scale facility targeting one million tons of CO₂ capture per year. Initially, the captured CO₂ will be sequestered onsite, with offshore geological storage under consideration for future phases. OASE blue, developed by BASF, is a high-efficiency gas treatment technology used in carbon capture across various industries including fossil power, cement, and maritime sectors. It offers over 90 per cent CO₂ capture efficiency, low energy and amine consumption, and modular scalability, with potential to produce food-grade CO₂ purity. Daniel Yao, Managing Director of CCAT, emphasized the project’s significance in advancing sustainable energy in Taiwan:"We’re honored to spearhead Taiwan’s first commercial carbon capture demonstration, and our collaboration with BASF will elevate the technical success of environmental initiatives. Together, we aim to provide Taipower with cleaner energy solutions." Lawrence Loe, Director of OASE Gas Treating Excellence at BASF Asia Pacific, added:"This project stands as a key reference for how OASE blue can help energy providers meet their CCS goals and accelerate the shift toward low-carbon energy." The CCS project is part of Taipower’s broader strategy to phase out coal by transitioning to gas-fired generation while integrating advanced emissions reduction technologies. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2907/taiwan-has-launched-its-specialty-golden-diamondpineapples-into-singapores-ntuc-fairprice.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2907/taiwan-has-launched-its-specialty-golden-diamondpineapples-into-singapores-ntuc-fairprice.html Wed, 14 May 2025 11:39:28 +0530 Taiwan Pineapples are sweeter than the average MD2 variants and increases the potential for buy-in locally In Taiwan, the Golden Diamond pineapple is produced in Guanmiao District, one of the country's most famous pineapple production regions due to its hilly terrain, acidic red sandy soil, and hilly terrain. In contrast to MD2 pineapples, which are the most common pineapple variety found in Singapore, Golden Diamond pineapples are finer in texture, contain less fibre and have a sweeter and juicier taste, along with a soft, fully edible core. According to Wu Wen-ling, director of the Consular Division of the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office, these characteristics have helped Golden Diamond pineapples stand out significantly among Taiwan's over 20 pineapple varieties. “One key example of its versatility can be seen in terms of consuming it as a juice – if one tried to just juice down MD2 pineapples and drink this directly without adding other juices or something to sweeten it, the consequences would not be pleasant as the level of sourness would be very extreme,” Wu told the floor at a recent event promoting the launch. “Golden Diamond pineapples are different as the juice can be drank as-is and the fruit can be eaten as-is without sweetening or mixing with other juices, greatly enhancing the benefits from the pineapple itself. “The natural sweetness of this fruit makes it suitable to be eaten as dried fruit, an ingredient in fried rice, a component of a dessert, and much more ” said Huang Wei-che, who discussed the potential commercial uses of this fruit, including baking and snacking. Kwok Ka Chun, Director of NTUC FairPrice Singapore, said that the unique taste of Golden Diamond pineapples would appeal to local taste buds, as local consumers know what good quality tastes like. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2894/tawian-promotes-three-key-technologies-to-help-greenhouse-tomatoes.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2894/tawian-promotes-three-key-technologies-to-help-greenhouse-tomatoes.html Mon, 05 May 2025 12:04:01 +0530 Introduced greenhouse small-fruit tomatoes, a disease-resistant tomato rootstock variety called "Tainan No. 1," and a small fruit tomato variety called "Tainan No. 25" Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture Tainan Agricultural Improvement Station announced three important research and development results to strengthen the sustainable development of greenhouse small-fruit tomatoes. Among them are integrated pest management techniques (IPM) for greenhouse tomatoes, a disease-resistant tomato rootstock variety called "Tainan No. 1," and a small fruit tomato variety called "Tainan No. 25" that is resistant to storage and transportation. By integrating all the technical components and applications, the industry will be able to enhance its competitiveness and physique. Chen Yuchu, director of the Tainan District Agricultural Research and Development Center, pointed out that small-fruit tomato varieties such as "Jade Girl" are popular among farmers and consumers. However, their intolerance to high temperatures limits the cultivation season. Coupled with the impact of climate change in recent years, the tomato industry faces challenges such as high temperature adversity, risks of pests and diseases, and imbalance between production and sales. In order to help farmers break through bottlenecks and improve overall efficiency, the farm has long invested in research on facility vegetable and fruit pest management and variety improvement. The three technologies announced today are the core key to leading the industry into a new stage of "low risk, high efficiency, and export potential." The storage-resistant tomato "Tainan No. 25 " helps the export market In response to the current situation where farmers are growing too few varieties of small-fruit tomatoes and the pressure from the domestic market, the Tainan farm has launched a new variety, "Tainan No. 25," which is red-fleshed and durable in storage and transportation. It breaks through the storage and transportation bottleneck of existing varieties and has the characteristics of high sugar content, firm flesh, and resistance to storage and transportation. . The small-fruit tomato "Tainan No. 25" has a red-fleshed oblong shape, with an average single fruit weight of about 11.5 grams; the sugar content is about 9.7 O Brix, and the fruit sugar-acid ratio can reach 25.4, and the flavor is no less than the current mainstream varieties; it is heat-resistant and suitable for Taiwan's spring cultivation environment from March to May, and can be harvested 78 to 87 days after planting, which is different from the current main production period in China; experiments have confirmed that "Tainan No. 25" can still maintain a 70% commercial rate when refrigerated at 5°C for 4 weeks. After its launch, it is expected to be promoted in the export market, providing an opportunity for the small-fruit tomato industry to open up export markets. Integrated IPM pest control technology implements safe and low-drug production model In response to abnormal climate and increased risks of pests and diseases, the Tainan farm established IPM (Integrated Pest Management) control technology for small-fruit tomatoes in facilities, focusing on the three aspects of "prevention, monitoring, and control" to help farmers effectively control silverleaf whiteflies and viral diseases. In terms of prevention, the farm emphasizes that facility cultivation should ensure complete isolation, use healthy seedlings and implement field hygiene. In terms of monitoring, yellow sticky papers are placed to regularly monitor the density of whiteflies. In terms of prevention and control, inspections are strengthened within 2 months after planting, virus strains are removed in a timely manner, and natural enemy insects such as tobacco blindness are introduced to control the density of whitefly populations, effectively reducing the labor for prevention and control and the frequency of pesticide application. The simultaneous introduction of sesame and cleome as banker plants for Tobacco tsunamis improves the stability of natural enemy populations and the effectiveness of pest control, thus successfully creating a pest defense line inside the facility. This set of operational technical guidelines has been successfully verified in multiple tomato cultivation fields, which can save nearly 60% of the cost of pesticide control, while increasing the yield by at least 20%, and overall increase the profit by at least 40%, providing the industry with a feasible safe production model. The eggplant rootstock "Tainan No. 1 " is highly resistant to bacterial wilt, high temperature resistant, and stable for grafting In response to the bacterial wilt disease that is common in Taiwan's tomato producing areas, the Tainan farm has undergone eight years of systematic breeding and regional trials and successfully developed a new hybrid first-generation tomato rootstock variety "Tainan No. 1". It is the first professional rootstock variety in the country that has stable disease resistance, strong affinity, and adaptability to high temperatures. The tomato rootstock "Tainan No. 1" has been field-tested in small-fruit and large-fruit tomatoes in major production areas such as Yunlin, Chiayi, and Nantou, showing that it can maintain good growth potential and stable yield of tomatoes under high temperature and disease adversity, has stable disease resistance to tomato bacterial wilt, and can maintain the quality and yield of tomatoes. This variety has now been transferred to Jiase Seed Co., Ltd. and Cola Seedlings, and is expected to become the key to improving the safety and efficiency of tomato production in the future. The Tainan District Agricultural Innovation Station emphasized that the three results published this time are all aimed at implementing field trials and promoting industrial applications, emphasizing "localized R&D", "precision promotion", and "integration of the industrial chain." In the future, we will continue to invest in technology upgrades and industry chain collaboration to achieve the goal of agricultural sustainability and market win-win results. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2891/moa-hosts-taiwan-agricultural-information-exchange-programs.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2891/moa-hosts-taiwan-agricultural-information-exchange-programs.html Fri, 02 May 2025 13:09:25 +0530 Key role in creating a bridge between Taiwan’s agricultural industry and world markets Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture held an event related to Australian agricultural experience, April 29 in the southern county of Pingtung, highlighting government commitment to promoting a collaborative relationship that prioritizes local producers’ needs and increases the experience of domestic personnel to compete in international markets. Organized by the MOA Department of International Affairs, the physical and virtual event brought over 130 academics, business representatives, experts and officials together. Sharing their observations during the event were delegation members to the 19th Taiwan-Australia Agricultural Meeting; and Evoke AG, an Asia Pacific premier agrifood innovation event, both held in February in Brisbane. Highlights included topic discussions on international trends such as food and agriculture supply chain transparency and a case study on zero use of fossil fuel in farms. Participants further explored issues such as biosecurity management, cross-border agro-industrial cooperation, investment incentives and restrictions in the Australian market and the complementary nature of bilateral industries. In addition, the MOA unveiled two international agricultural leadership training programs in the final session. In the first, the MOA will work with the U.K.-based nonprofit organization Nuffield International and other international partners to cultivate young agricultural personnel aged from 18-30 in a program that supports youth to travel overseas to learn about industry-related innovation and management. A second program assists those aged over 30 to gain management expertise and play a key role in creating a bridge between Taiwan’s agricultural industry and world markets. The MOA emphasized that Taiwan’s agriculture must move toward high-value and sustainable development to face global challenges such as climate change and intensified trade competition. Australia is a close partner and shares interest in areas spanning smart agriculture and sustainability, the MOA said, expressing anticipation of further strengthening bilateral strategic cooperation. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2887/taiwan-ministry-of-agriculture-expands-presence-in-japan.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2887/taiwan-ministry-of-agriculture-expands-presence-in-japan.html Wed, 30 Apr 2025 12:23:29 +0530 Taiwan exports of the fruit to Japan hit a record high of 19,373 tons in 2024 indicating robust bilateral relationship An agricultural section was inaugurated at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan April 28 in Tokyo, marking a new milestone in the already robust bilateral relationship. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the new entity was jointly inaugurated by Deputy Minister Hu Jong-i and Lee I-yang, Taiwan's representative to Japan. It is the third of its kind, with one at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States and the other at the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium. The MOA said Taiwan and Japan are important agricultural and fishery partners, with Japan being the fourth largest supplier of agricultural imports to Taiwan and taking nearly 15 % of such exports from Taiwan. The two countries also share extensive exchanges and reciprocal visits, the MOA said, adding that the newly created section will play a critical role in expanding mutual understanding and paving the way for more cooperation across the board. The ministry said Hu also visited three Japanese firms April 25 in Hokkaido that are involved in a cooperative project that uses Taiwan-grown rice for group meals in the region, and expressed desire to see Taiwan become a primary supplier of quality rice to Japan. Later in the day, Hu took part in an event at a supermarket chain to promote Taiwan-grown pineapples. MOA statistics show that Taiwan exports of the fruit to Japan hit a record high of 19,373 tons in 2024. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2848/taiwan-renovates-its-worlds-largest-seed-bank-facility.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2848/taiwan-renovates-its-worlds-largest-seed-bank-facility.html Wed, 09 Apr 2025 13:07:57 +0530 The IVG is the world’s largest such bank, with over 65,000 genetic resources such as seeds, tissues, and DNA sequences from 155 countries Taiwan's Tainan City-based World Vegetable Center is working with global partners to increase food security by addressing the crises brought on by climate change, according to Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih.  The IVG is the world’s largest such bank, with over 65,000 genetic resources such as seeds, tissues, and DNA sequences from 155 countries. Additionally, the facility also possesses samples of over 12,000 green beans, and over 35,000 native Southeast Asian vegetables, the most complete collection assembled worldwide.  WVC's International Vegetable Genebank, famous for its extensive collection of genes and outstanding research capacity, opened its renovated building on March 31. Chen delivered the remarks at the opening of the building. Stefan Schmitz, executive director of Crop Trust, and Gugu Shabangu, principal secretary for Eswatini's Ministry of Agriculture, participated in the event. Founded in May 1971 by the Asian Development Bank, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, and Taiwan with a mandate to work in tropical Asia, WVC, formerly known as the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center, established a seed bank in southern Taiwan’s Tainan County in the 1970s.   A lack of space and aging infrastructure plagued the facility after decades of use. In order to ensure the safety of seed samples, the MOA assisted the WVC in renovating the building and upgrading the IVG's equipment in 2024.    The WVC has collaborated with the domestic public and private agricultural sectors on breeding over 40 new varieties of vegetables that can withstand disease, drought and heat, including tomatoes and pumpkins. WVC and ten MOA research institutes signed a memorandum of understanding in July 2024 to strengthen cooperation, according to the ministry. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2753/taiwan-technical-mission-and-ccmrv-hub-sign-mou-to-strengthen-agricultural-sector.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2753/taiwan-technical-mission-and-ccmrv-hub-sign-mou-to-strengthen-agricultural-sector.html Fri, 28 Feb 2025 09:40:00 +0530 Aims to foster better data collection and climate-resilient agriculture The Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia and the Caribbean Cooperative Measurement, Reporting and Verification (CCMRV) Hub have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fostering better data collection and climate-resilient agriculture. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Daniel Lee, Chief of the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia, and Michael Gillenwater, Interim Director of the Caribbean Cooperative Measurement, Reporting and Verification (CCMRV) Hub, and witnessed by H.E. Nicole Su, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, and Alfred Prospere, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development. On the Castries Waterfront, the signing ceremony was held on February 13, 2025, in the conference room of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development. Speaking at the signing ceremony, H.E. Nicole Su, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, said the project bears great significance in terms of the tripartite collaboration involved and the benefits that would bolster the local agricultural sector. The CCMRV Hub has impressive experience in innovative projects in strengthening resilience against climate change in the local communities,” Ambassador Su explained. “With this project, working with the Taiwan Technical Mission here in Saint Lucia, I’m sure that both the CCMRV Hub and the local farmers who participate in this project will find this tripartite manner of cooperation bring invaluable experience and precious knowledge to the project. For this, I’d like to thank Hon. Prospere and his team at the Ministry of Agriculture for their support in conducting this particular project. This would not be possible without your feedback and input during the consultation process.” As climate change continues to pose tremendous threats to the planet, Ambassador Su said extreme weather events have been demonstrating damaging impacts on livelihoods and specifically food security. She said the project is the crucial first step towards building sustainable development for Saint Lucia’s food security policy. During his remarks, Minister Prospere thanked all stakeholders for their contribution to the project. He said reliable and current information is crucial to making informed decisions regarding what crops to grow locally to offset the growing import bill for food on the island. Agricultural, Fisheries, Food Security, and Rural Development Minister Alfred Prospere thanked all stakeholders involved in the project and said it is crucial to have accurate and up-to-date data for decision-making, including deciding what crops to grow locally to offset the island's growing food import bills. Minister Prospere said the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) had committed to reduce the Region’s food import bill by 25% by 2025. The implementation of the CARICOM Agri-Food Systems Strategy in Member States was expected to help achieve this target by giving special attention to poultry, corn, soya, meat, rice and niche vegetables, which are highly imported products in the Region. However, he said no significant reduction of the Region’s food import bill has been made, prompting a recommendation that CARICOM extend the period to 2030. Benise Joseph, Programme Officer for the Caribbean Cooperative Measurement, Reporting and Verification (CCMRV) Hub, said the signing ceremony crystallized the partnership between the Taiwan Technical Mission in Saint Lucia and the CCMRV Hub. She noted that discussion on the project began in 2023 at the MRV Hub’s annual meeting held in Saint Lucia that explored possible collaborations between the two agencies. The CCMRV Hub, also referred to as the MRV Hub, is a regional institution dedicated to fostering technical excellence and supporting policy-relevant climate accounting across the Caribbean. The agency aims to strengthen the capacity of Caribbean nations by providing technical services that help governments fulfil their Paris Agreement commitments and transition to the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF). ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2683/taiwan-to-strengthen-agriculture-sector-by-encouraging-sustainable-and-smart-farming.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2683/taiwan-to-strengthen-agriculture-sector-by-encouraging-sustainable-and-smart-farming.html Mon, 20 Jan 2025 12:03:22 +0530 Country has a strong agricultural tradition and actively advances high-quality products As part of the government's efforts to promote smart and sustainable production, Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai assured that protections for agriculture will be enhanced. The first National Food & Agriculture Education Outstanding Contribution Award was presented in Taipei City Jan. 14. Cho said despite Taiwan's small area, the country has a strong agricultural tradition and actively advances high-quality products.   The advancement of agri-food education required collaboration between a variety of government agencies, according to Cho. In addition to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Education educates about sustainable agriculture practices, the Ministry of Health and Welfare ensures food safety, while the Ministry of Culture, the Hakka Affairs Council, and the Council of Indigenous Peoples preserve diverse food cultures. In addition to recognizing Professor J. P. Lin from National Taiwan Normal University for her support of domestic agricultural education, the premier also presented awards to five other winners. One of five winners in individual categories was Liao Zao-rui, a teacher from Ancing Elementary School in southern Taiwan's Tainan city, for creating traceable menus; and Li Fa-xian, an organic farmer, was honored for organizing an agricultural festival through fundraising.   In the group category, ten winners were recognized, including Taipei-based Presicarre Corporation, which promotes agri-food education in its supermarkets, and the Chi-shang Farmers' Association in Taitung County, which offers a number of experiential activities, the Executive Yuan added. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2678/taiwan-emphasizes-strengthening-and-advancing-smart-and-sustainable-agriculture.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2678/taiwan-emphasizes-strengthening-and-advancing-smart-and-sustainable-agriculture.html Fri, 17 Jan 2025 12:04:33 +0530 Transition from traditional farming to smart agriculture Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai emphasized that the government will strengthen agriculture protections while promoting smart and sustainable production. At the first National Food & Agriculture Education Outstanding Contribution Award ceremony on Jan. 14 in Taipei City, Cho noted that Taiwan has a strong agricultural tradition and actively promotes high-quality produce despite its small area.   Agri-food education advancement involved collaboration between various government agencies, Cho said. As examples, the Ministry of Agriculture assists transition from traditional farming to smart agriculture; the Ministry of Education educates about sustainable practices in agriculture; the Ministry of Health and Welfare ensures food safety, while the Ministry of Culture, Hakka Affairs Council and the Council of Indigenous Peoples preserve diverse food cultures. The premier presented awards to winners including Professor J. P. Lin from National Taiwan Normal University who was recognized for her assistance in establishing domestic agri-food education. Among the five winners in individual categories, Liao Zao-rui, a teacher from Ancing Elementary School in southern Taiwan’s Tainan city, was praised for creating traceable menus. Organic farmer, Li Fa-xian, was recognized for raising funds to organize an agricultural festival.   Ten winners were honored in the group category, including the Taipei-headquartered Presicarre Corporation, which advocates agri-food education in its supermarkets and the Chi-shang Farmers’ Association based in the southeastern county of Taitung, which hosts a variety of experiential activities, Executive Yuan added. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2594/national-taiwan-university-experimental-forest-and-bioplus-co-unveil-biodiversity-initiative-at-cop29.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2594/national-taiwan-university-experimental-forest-and-bioplus-co-unveil-biodiversity-initiative-at-cop29.html Wed, 27 Nov 2024 08:39:40 +0530 Underscore the urgency of addressing the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity degradation The 29th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29) opened in Baku, Azerbaijan, focusing on climate financing to support developing nations in their transition to net-zero emissions. At COP29 Blue Zone, Taiwan's National Taiwan University Experimental Forest (NTUEF), led by Professor Ming-Jer Tsai and Professor Chun-Han Ko, hosted a landmark announcement on the "Coalition for Rainforest Nations" stage at the World Climate Foundation (WCF). The Asian Biodiversity Credit Scheme - BioPlus reaffirmed its leadership in biodiversity conservation and innovative financing at this event. COP29's keynote speech resonated deeply with leaders from industry, government, academics, and civil society. The Call to Action: Addressing Biodiversity Loss:Biodiversity loss is accelerating at an alarming rate. According to the WWF’s 2024 Living Planet Report, global wildlife populations have declined by 73% since 1970. These staggering figures underscore the urgency of addressing the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity degradation. To tackle these challenges, NTUEF, WCF, and BioPlus Co. signed an International Strategic Cooperation Agreement on November 16, 2024. This partnership aims to develop commercially viable ecosystem solutions for the global climate financing market. During the signing ceremony, Jens Nielsen, Chairman of the WCF, praised the BioPlus initiative: "The Asian Biodiversity Credit Scheme – BioPlus sets a new global benchmark with its scientific rigor, transparency, and international certification. It represents the future of biodiversity action and financing." The announcement was met with resounding applause, highlighting the collaboration's potential to deliver impactful biodiversity conservation outcomes. Nielsen emphasized that NTUEF’s extensive database, leveraging 120 years of Scientific Data, provides a solid foundation for business engagement in biodiversity preservation. This collaboration focuses on meeting international MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) standards, ensuring businesses have access to reliable data for informed decision-making. The partnership demonstrates the essential role of science in addressing global environmental challenges. On November 17, Professor Tsai delivered a keynote address at the World Climate Summit (WCS) titled "Asian Biodiversity Credit Scheme – BioPlus." His presentation emphasized the urgent need for scientifically validated methods to monitor, report, and verify biodiversity conservation efforts. Tsai also highlighted the importance of engaging Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities (IPLCs), and academic institutions in advancing biodiversity research and fostering business applications. Professor Tsai expressed gratitude to the stakeholders who supported the initiative after COP28 in Dubai, including early adopters such as E.Sun Financial Institution, Cathay Financial Institution, and conservation organizations like the Hima Foundation and Pure Green Foundation. He announced plans to collaborate with six experimental forests across Asia to develop innovative solutions to the interconnected crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. Professor Tsai called on the global community to unite in building a sustainable future. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2389/chili-exports-to-taiwanese-market-skyrocket-by-640-in-seven-months.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2389/chili-exports-to-taiwanese-market-skyrocket-by-640-in-seven-months.html Mon, 19 Aug 2024 11:25:30 +0530 Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA) reported an exported quantity of 8,023 tonnes of chill, representing an increase of 3.5% on-year Vietnam exported 37 tonnes of chilli to Taiwan (China) in the first seven months of this year, a year-on-year growth of 640 %. According to the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA), the total chilli export volume of the whole country reached 8,023 tonnes in the past seven months, an increase of 3.5 % over the same period last year. China retained its top position as Vietnam’s largest chili export market in the reviewed period with 6,834 tonnes, accounting for 85.2% of the total export output and enduring a fall of 1.9% on-year. Laos ranked second with 810 tonnes, up 44.6% on-year, followed by the United States with 134 tonnes, up 157.7% against the same period from last year. Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA) pointed out that the impressive growth can largely be attributed to the fact that China has permitted the Vietnamese side to officially export chili to this market since March, 2022. Currently, chili exports are facing a number of challenges as the EU has moved to tighten food and safety hygiene over Vietnamese agricultural products, including chili, dragon fruit, and okra. Local enterprises are advised to improve management over product quality as they seek to export agricultural products to the EU market in a stable manner moving forward. Statistics indicate that from January to July 2024, the country exported 8,023 tonnes of chill, representing an increase of 3.5% on-year. Indeed, the Asian market continued to play a leading role with 7,727 tonnes, up 2.1% on-year; trailed by the American market with 143 tonnes, up 123.4%; the European market with 80 tonnes; and Africa with 73 tonnes. The chilli exports reached $20 million in 2023, equivalent to 10,173 tonnes, up 107% over 2022. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2360/mitsubishi-heavy-industries-and-taiwan-fertilizer-to-develop-fuel-ammonia-value-chain-in-taiwan.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2360/mitsubishi-heavy-industries-and-taiwan-fertilizer-to-develop-fuel-ammonia-value-chain-in-taiwan.html Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:20:08 +0530 MHI and TFC to jointly assess the feasibility of developing a fuel ammonia value chain, including ammonia receiving, storage, handling, delivery, and combustion Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Taiwan Fertilizer Co., Ltd. (TFC) to conduct a joint pre-feasibility study that will explore the establishment of an ammonia value chain in Taiwan. This is in support of Taiwan's "2050 Net-Zero Emissions" goal. Under this MoU, MHI and TFC will assess facilities and economic feasibility of the fuel ammonia value chain, including ammonia receiving, storage, handling, and delivery to power plants, as well as using ammonia as a fuel for power generation. Through this study, both companies aim to lay a strong foundation for a robust ammonia value chain in Taiwan. Ammonia, a compound comprised of hydrogen and nitrogen, serves as an efficient carrier for transporting hydrogen and can also be directly combusted as a fuel without producing CO2. As ammonia emerges as a clean fuel of the future, the establishment of a comprehensive value chain, from production to utilization, will greatly contribute to achieving a carbon-neutral society. In March 2022, the Taiwanese government announced its climate target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with a focus on reducing carbon emissions and promoting the adoption of less carbon intensive fuels. To achieve this, TFC is committed to promoting the use of blue ammonia and green ammonia as a fuel in Taiwan, as demonstrated by its importation of Taiwan's first low-carbon ammonia in June 2023 and establishment of an Ammonia Energy Division in January 2024. Blue ammonia: ammonia produced by using the hydrogen derived from fossil fuels using CO2 capture. Green ammonia: ammonia produced by using renewable energy power, water, and air as raw materials and using process that does not emit CO2. Low-carbon ammonia: ammonia that has reduced CO2 emissions throughout the supply chain, achieved through processes such as CO2 separation and capture during production.MHI Group is pursuing a growth strategy in the area of Energy Transition, aiming for decarbonization on the energy supply side to support the Company's goal of achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2040. Through this collaboration with TFC, MHI Group will support the establishment of the fuel ammonia value chain in Taiwan to meet the decarbonization needs of various industries, including the power generation sector, and as a way of contributing to the realization of a sustainable, Carbon Neutral world. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2301/cathay-fhc-spearheads-taiwans-renewable-energy-push.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2301/cathay-fhc-spearheads-taiwans-renewable-energy-push.html Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:17:31 +0530 Cathay FHC's three pillars for energy transition: renewable energy investment and financing, innovative renewable energy collaboration, and leveraging core competencies to innovate services. Sustainable finance boosts the competitiveness of net-zero transition. On June 26, Lee Chang-Ken , President of Cathay Financial Holdings (Cathay FHC), personally attended the "Climate Investment Summit" at the London Stock Exchange (LSEG), becoming the only speaker from Taiwan for the second consecutive year. Building on the consensus of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) on "Transforming the Energy System and Moving Away from Fossil Fuels" in 2023, Lee discussed the challenges and solutions in promoting renewable energy using Asia as an example, and shared Cathay FHC's cross-industry efforts and tangible results in promoting renewable energy initiatives, demonstrating that Taiwan's financial sector is succeeding in implementing net-zero transition on a global scale. The Climate Investment Summit was an iconic platform for global climate solutions held at the historic LSEG Financial Centre. Cathay FHC was not only the only Taiwanese financial institution to be re-invited to the summit, but also acted as a bridge for the energy transition dialogue between Europe, America and Asia. This represents international recognition of the commitment and achievements of Taiwan's financial industry in the energy transition. Lee participated in the summit's discussion on "Renewable Returns: The Business Case for Mature Energy Technologies", highlighting how Cathay FHC supports the development of low-carbon industries through capital and innovative financial services. Cathay FHC has been recognised as a global best practice case by Investor Agenda for its Investor Climate Action Plans (ICAPs) for two years in a row, making it the only selected asset owner in Asia. Cathay FHC is the sixth financial institution in Asia to set SBT targets validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), and has committed to achieving zero carbon emissions from its financial assets by 2050. Cathay FHC is also the first Taiwanese member of RE100 and a pioneer in renewable energy financing in Taiwan . In the areas of low-carbon transition and renewable energy innovation, Cathay FHC continues to lead the way in conducting trials, providing evidence of feasibility to the market, and becoming a major driver of renewable energy in Taiwan . In 2023, Cathay FHC will consume 17.95 million kWh of renewable energy, and by the end of 2023, the total amount of low-carbon investment and financing will reach NT$330.5 billion (equivalent to approximately US$11.7 billion). ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2283/taiwans-datayoo-revolutionizes-precision-agriculture-with-ai-satellite-powered-farmispace-platform.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/2283/taiwans-datayoo-revolutionizes-precision-agriculture-with-ai-satellite-powered-farmispace-platform.html Wed, 10 Jul 2024 10:56:37 +0530 DataYoo, a leading agritech company, is transforming precision agriculture with its innovative FarmiSpace platform. By harnessing high-resolution satellite data, DataYoo empowers global farmers to optimize resources, boost yields, and promote sustainability through data-driven decision-making. FarmiSpace offers unparalleled precision with 3x3 meter resolution satellite data, surpassing competitors' 10x10 to 250x250 meter resolutions. This precision allows farmers to monitor their fields daily, detecting subtle changes in crop health, water stress, and growth patterns. For just USD 42/year, smallholder farmers can monitor two hectares of land daily. This affordable pricing, coupled with flexible service options, democratizes access to advanced agricultural technology. The platform's features include: Digital field management: Farmers can digitally map their fields, set planting cycles, and track crop progress. Advanced warning system: Custom alerts notify farmers of potential issues before they escalate. AI-powered crop recognition: Automatic identification of crop types and distribution. DataYoo's impact extends beyond individual farms. In Guatemala, the company has partnered with Misión De Taiwán, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and local organizations to establish weather stations and experimental fields. By integrating data from multiple sources, DataYoo has helped local farmers. The company's predictive models boast an impressive accuracy rate of 80% to 99.8%. This capability allows governments to anticipate potential crop failures and take proactive measures to ensure food security. "FarmiSpace is the ideal platform for farmers who want to adopt technology, combining technological applications with traditional practices to help farmers stay competitive in the market," says Dafne, an agricultural expert working with DataYoo in Guatemala. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/1567/taiwans-pioneering-tea-brand-tsengs-tea-first-to-achieve-anti-additive-clean-label-certification.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/1567/taiwans-pioneering-tea-brand-tsengs-tea-first-to-achieve-anti-additive-clean-label-certification.html Fri, 24 Nov 2023 10:46:21 +0530 TSENG'S Tea,  a prominent tea brand of TSENG'S TEA INTERNATIONAL TRADING CO, Ltd. from Taiwan, has recently been awarded the prestigious Anti Additive Clean Label certification, marking a historic milestone as the first tea leaf brand in Taiwan to achieve this recognition. The accolade has also garnered  TSENG'S Tea an exclusive invitation to participate in the 2024 Foodex Japan, presenting an exceptional opportunity to promote Taiwan's organic tea culture and further elevate the country's tea industry. TSENG'S Tea's distinct quality features played a pivotal role in attaining the Anti Additive Clean Label certification, positioning it as the inaugural Taiwanese tea brand to receive this honor. This certification emphasizes the commitment to maintaining tea purity and quality by refraining from the use of flavor enhancers, bleaching agents, quality-improving agents, artificial colors, artificial fragrances, and preservatives throughout the production process. TSENG'S Tea has emerged as a globally recognized representative of tea leaves, capturing significant international attention. Situated in the premier tea leaf-producing region of Miaoli's Tongluo Mountains, TSENG'S Tea upholds a 132-year-old tea-making tradition. Committed to single-origin production, small-batch crafting, tea masters independently adjusting roasting formulations, non-toxic organic practices, and the infusion of natural floral and fruity fragrances, TSENG'S Tea has not only become a sensation domestically but has also made remarkable appearances at tea expos worldwide. TSENG'S Tea has spearheaded revolutionary changes in the tea industry, presenting more efficient, higher-quality tea while maintaining ecological balance. TSENG'S Tea's unique characteristics lie in its perfume-like flavor, showcasing layers of taste in the forefront, midsection, final stages, and aftertaste. Adopting innovative practices such as mutually beneficial relationships with insects and exclusive harvesting from top-tier regions, TSENG'S Tea has successfully challenged traditional frameworks, standing out as the embodiment of Taiwan's organic tea culture. On November 24th of this year, TSENG'S Tea achieved another milestone by becoming the exclusive Taiwanese tea plantation designated for visitation by the AVPA French Agricultural Association. As a significant leap, TSENG'S Tea is set to make its debut at the Foodex Japan from March 5th to 8th, 2024, marking the first entry of a Taiwanese tea brand into this esteemed event. Eagerly anticipating a splendid showcase at the Foodex Japan, TSENG'S Tea aims to present the unique charm of Taiwan's organic tea while creating new international opportunities for the Taiwanese tea industry. This event is poised to be a highly anticipated affair, with TSENG'S Tea shining brightly as a symbol of Taiwan's excellence. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/1375/taiwan-revolutionizes-shrimp-farming.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/1375/taiwan-revolutionizes-shrimp-farming.html Fri, 08 Sep 2023 10:59:15 +0530 Taiwan's Unique Sapphire Tiger Prawns Cultivated in Innovative Recirculating Aquaculture System A huge industry has developed with annual production values exceeding $10 million as a result of captive-bred shrimp surpassing wild-caught shrimp, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Global demand for shrimp products is substantial, but the aquaculture industry faces environmental challenges, such as disease outbreaks and elevated mortality rates caused by erratic weather conditions. Taiwan, which is located in the subtropical region, experiences enormous weather variations throughout the four seasons. The traditional shrimp farming industry in coastal regions has also been adversely affected by extreme weather events. Excessive rainfall has resulted in devastating losses in various regional conditions, such as water quality and soil quality, that pose challenges to shrimp farming standardization. Revolutionizing Farming Conditions Through TechnologyAlthough this innovative technology may cost a bit more at first, it has proven highly effective in curbing the spread of diseases through waterbirds and mitigating the effects of severe weather. Biological control and water purity have been of paramount importance to Hsu since the farm's inception. In our approach, shrimp are grown in specialized greenhouses equipped with a recirculating aquaculture system. In order to achieve precise environmental control, greenhouses must be constructed in various sizes. Upon entering the farm, the shrimplets are sterilized and examined to prevent infection. Farmers' decision-making has been improved, labor requirements have been reduced, and shrimplet survival rates have been enhanced to approximately 90% with this technological innovation. Additionally, a mobile phone application provides real-time monitoring of water quality via an Internet of Things (IoT) network. Temperature, pH level, and dissolved oxygen content are some of these parameters. In addition to year-round farming, this technology can accommodate diverse seasons and species, such as vannamei schrimp, kurumaprawns, and groupers. The sapphire tiger prawns produced by Kazuo Aquaculture are cultivated without the use of pharmaceutical interventions. Tackling Climatic Challenges In the case of Taiwan’s Kazuo Aquaculture, ltd. has constructed an inland greenhouse recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), fortifying risk management within the farm environment. This innovative approach also bolsters yields and revenues while conserving water resources through the recycling of up to 90% of the aquaculture water. Evaporation losses are offset through rainwater, with salinity adjustments achieved through salt supplementation. Given that the upfront costs exceed those of traditional earthen ponds, this approach has found limited adoption in Taiwan.  Charlie Hsu, General manager at Kazuo Aquaculture, concedes that the expenses of establishing a comprehensive greenhouse RAS are significantly higher. High-yield aquaculture should, however, lead to satisfactory returns on investment. Construction of similar indoor aquaculture ponds is expected to become less expensive as technology matures, and pond quality is expected to improve as well. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/1126/sophies-bionutrients-develops-chlorella-ice-cream-with-enhanced-iron-b12-than-cows-milk.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/1126/sophies-bionutrients-develops-chlorella-ice-cream-with-enhanced-iron-b12-than-cows-milk.html Mon, 03 Jul 2023 08:26:00 +0530 Collaborates with the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) to make chlorella-based, vegan-friendly ice cream Singapore based, Netherlands B2B food tech company Sophie's BioNutrients has collaborated with the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) to produce its first chlorella-based ice cream. Sophie's specializes in microalgae innovations – its previous breakthroughs include the world's first algae-based milk and cheddar cheese.  Made with Sophie's dairy-free Chlorella Protein Concentrate, the new vegan ice cream boasts a complete nutritional panel, with more B12 and iron than most dairy and plant-based alternatives. Sophie's Chlorella Protein is a neutral-hued microalgae flour naturally cultivated from Chlorella vulgaris. The company states the Chlorella vulgaris strains it uses are US GRAS and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approved as food ingredients. To create the ice cream, the team at Sophie's worked with DTI's technical experts to perform an initial screening of the ingredient's potential, before combining it with functional ingredients that mimicked ice cream's natural texture. The finished product can be used to make several popular ice cream flavors. According to Sophie's, a 1 oz serving of chlorella ice cream has the potential to provide double the recommended daily intake of Vitamin B12. Chlorella is also a good source of iron – a nutrient absent in cow's milk. Furthermore, chlorella is sustainably grown and harvested within three days in a protected environment, carrying a much lower carbon footprint than dairy farming. "Microalgae is one of the most nutrient-rich and versatile resources on the planet,"  said Eugene Wang, Co-Founder and CEO of Sophie's BioNutrients. "Today we have shown another facet of the unlimited possibilities this superfood can offer – a dairy and lactose-free alternative to ice cream that, thanks to microalgae, offers a higher nutrition content than most available dairy-free alternatives. We are incredibly excited for this development in allergen-free foods and the prospect of more inclusive dining." ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/1116/taiwans-tfda-launches-2023-inspection-project-for-liquid-egg-product-manufacturers.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/1116/taiwans-tfda-launches-2023-inspection-project-for-liquid-egg-product-manufacturers.html Fri, 30 Jun 2023 09:05:41 +0530 TFDA aims to conduct inspections and sampling tests on liquid egg manufacturers in cooperation with local government health departments The liquid egg is the product obtained by removing the eggshell. It is widely used in the bakery and food service industries because it saves time and labor in egg breaking. However, it is susceptible to microbial contamination during production caused by raw egg shells, the production process, equipment, and personnel handling. In order to maintain the safety and hygiene of liquid egg products, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) is launching the "2023 Inspection Project for Liquid Egg Product Manufacturers" to conduct inspections and sampling tests on liquid egg manufacturers in cooperation with local government health departments.     This project will focus on compliance with the Registration of Food Businesses, Regulations on Good Hygiene Practice for Food (GHP), Regulations on Food Safety Control System (HACCP), and other regula-tions, as well as the legality of raw materials and product labeling. Mean-while, raw eggs will be sampled and tested for animal drugs and pesticide residues, and finished liquid eggs will be sampled and tested in accord-ance with the Sanitation Standard for Microorganisms in Foods.     TFDA urges the food industry to implement self-regulation and com-ply with the relevant provisions of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation to ensure the health and safety and quality of liquid egg prod-ucts. Violations will be dealt with in accordance with the law for the pro-tection of food hygiene and consumer safety. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/1089/taiwan-urges-china-to-discuss-cross-strait-agricultural-products-quarantine-inspection-cooperation-agreement.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/1089/taiwan-urges-china-to-discuss-cross-strait-agricultural-products-quarantine-inspection-cooperation-agreement.html Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:28:11 +0530 China resumes imports of sugar apples from Taiwan after two years Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture (COA) is satisfied with the decision and urged China to communicate and discuss quarantine regulations on the platform of the ‘Cross-Strait Agricultural Products Quarantine Inspection Cooperation Agreement’ regarding the agricultural and fishery products that are still suspended by China. Taiwan hopes that mainland China will conduct technical dialogue with Taiwan in accordance with international trade norms and resume trade as soon as possible.  China has resumed imports of sugar apples from Taiwan, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council announced this. After two years China has resumed fruit export from Taiwan. Due to repeated instances of quarantine pests being detected in the particular type of fruits, mainland China suspended the import of sugar apples from Taiwan in September 2021. Since then COA was engaged in a scientific and technical dialogue with China to resume trade. According to the COA data, China was the largest fresh fruit importer from Taiwan accounted more than 80 per cent in 2021. Taiwan’s Cross-Strait Agricultural Products Quarantine and Inspection Cooperation Agreement platform has not received any notification from the Chinese side to reopen the import of custard apples and has not provided registration conditions. The Chinese announcement list only has 3 packaging factories and 25 orchards.  The sugar apple or Custard apple is a national fruit of Taiwan which is also known as Buddha’s head. According to agricultural figures, sugar apples grow on 2,800 hectares of land in Taiwan’s Taitung region. The data also shows that 4,355 tonnes of fruits were exported worldwide between December 2021 and April last year. Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that the decision was made based on a comprehensive assessment of relevant rectification measures. She added that the sugar apples must come from registered packaging factories and orchards. "The mainland is willing to work with relevant departments in Taiwan and continue to facilitate the resumption of the entry of certain agricultural and aquatic products from the island," Zhu said.  After China’s import suspension, sugar apple growers from Taiwan eye a new market for fruit exports. Taiwan exported 3000kg of Sugar apples to Brunei in February this year. Brunei is the hope for Taiwan which can help offset losses from China’s ban on exports of sugar apples.  Taiwan also tried to obtain a permit to export sugar apples to Japan last year. The Council of Agriculture had applied for the permit as a part of efforts to diversify Taiwan’s export markets of Sugar apples. Japan is an important buyer of Taiwanese mangoes, lychees, grapes, pomelos, papayas and ponkan oranges. Japan became the largest market for Taiwanese fruit exports accounting for 46.2 per cent in 2022. According to the Council of Agriculture (COA), Sugar Apple is not native to Taiwan but Taiwan has become the largest sugar apple-cultivating country in the world. Sugar apple is grown in southern Taiwan in Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Taitung counties. Among them, Taitung is the largest production area in Taiwan. In Taiwan, the fruit can be harvested from July to February. There are 10 major types of sugar apples currently grown in Taitung. Among them, Tamali Damu sugar apple and Beinan pineapple sugar apple are the two most popular varieties. The sugar apple was introduced to Taiwan by Dutch colonialists about 400 years ago. Sugar apple goes by various names, including Buddha’s head and custard apple. In Taiwan, it has been called the foreign litchi or Sakya. The name of foreign litchi comes from the fact that the unripe fruits look like litchi and it was from a foreign country. As for its second Taiwanese name - which is more commonly used nowadays, people call it Sakya or Buddha's head, because one variety resembles the top part of Sakyamuni's head. Shraddha Warde Shraddha.warde@mmactiv.com ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/969/taiwan-us-trade-pact-to-benefit-taiwanese-agri-export.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/969/taiwan-us-trade-pact-to-benefit-taiwanese-agri-export.html Mon, 22 May 2023 16:55:12 +0530 The United States of America and Taiwan have finalised the first phase of a 21st-century trade plan United States of America (US) and Taiwan have finalised the first phase of a 21st-century trade plan amid tension between Washington and Beijing, the trade will facilitate some agricultural exports to the US, according to the Council of Agriculture (COA). Moth orchids and guavas will gain quick access to the US. The export value of moth orchids has reached $64.6 million and the value of guavas reached $248,000 last year.  Both countries have introduced digital declaration and a streamlined system under the deal, those goods and products with a short shelf life will be allowed to clear customs faster. A trade agreement between US and Taiwan is expected to be signed in the coming weeks, according to Taiwan's Office of Trade Negotiations. COAis expecting the second phase of talks could enable Taiwan to export pineapples and processed pork products to the U.S. The First Agreement under the initiative, its text comprises eight chapters and over 80 articles and is being called the most detailed trade agreement signed between Taiwan and the U.S. since 1979, when formal bilateral ties were severed. Taiwanese officials described the document as a milestone that will serve as a crucial ‘building block’ in efforts to negotiate a free trade agreement between the two countries and shows that Taiwan's trade system meets high international standards. This initial agreement did not cover tariff reductions or exemptions. It outlined practices and procedures related to a host of topics aimed at streamlining and strengthening trade relations. The areas covered were customs and trade facilitation, regulatory practices, domestic regulation of services, anti-corruption practices, and small and medium-sized enterprises. Under the new deal, the two sides have committed to working to facilitate bilateral trade and investment flows, improve regulatory practices, promote anti-corruption measures, and minimize unnecessary formalities at the border. Katherine Tai, US Trade Representative (USTR) said, "This accomplishment represents an important step forward in strengthening the US-Taiwan economic relationship," Taiwan and the United States do not have official diplomatic relations, both nations do maintain unofficial ties through the de facto US embassy in the country, the American Institute in Taiwan. Beijing has in recent years stepped up its threats and rhetoric against Taiwan, increasing military drills in the seas around the island and working to cut off its official ties with countries around the world. The issue prompts rare bipartisan agreement in the United States, with politicians including Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his Democratic predecessor Nancy Pelosi both meeting publicly with the Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen over the last 12 months, drawing sharp criticism from China. According to a Statement by US Trade Department, “The first agreement under the initiative will allow American businesses to bring more products to Taiwan and Taiwanese customers, while creating more transparent and streamlined regulatory procedures that can facilitate investment and economic opportunities in both markets, particularly for small- and medium-sized enterprises." The United States is becoming the largest market for Taiwan’s agricultural products export, Taiwan’s agricultural export reached a record value of $5.67 billion last year. China imposed a ban on the import of food and beverage products from Taiwan, including fish, seafood, fruit and beer, after this Taiwan diversified its export policy   Shraddha Warde shraddhawarde@mmactiv.com ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/835/lypid-launches-worlds-first-plant-based-pork-belly-product-in-taiwan.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/835/lypid-launches-worlds-first-plant-based-pork-belly-product-in-taiwan.html Tue, 25 Apr 2023 12:10:51 +0530 Lypid pioneers fat encapsulation technology to make plant-based vegan pork belly taste like the real thing using PhytoFat Taiwan-based innovative food technology start-up, Lypid has launched its plant-based, vegan pork belly product, supporting cruelty-free and eco-friendly food products. Made from 100% plant-based ingredients and patented PhytoFat technology (special encapsulated technology for canola or olive oil), Lypid’s pork belly has a juicy, smoky flavor simulating real meat. In addition to taste and texture, it is high in protein and free of antibiotics. To make plant-based meat tastier, Lypid uses PhytoFat. Lypid targets a growing food segment that identifies itself as vegetarian, or flexitarian with a preference for plant-based food. Lypid unveiled its newest innovation, serving as a major ingredient in vegan macaroni and cheese, as well as a pizza topping. Pork belly from Lypid offers a wide range of possibilities to fill the gap in the alternative meat market. Furthermore, compared to traditional pork bacon, the derivates have been proven to be lower in cholesterol, 85% lower in saturated fat, 39% lower in calories, and 69% lower in sodium. Lypid's pork belly cooks and sizzles just like traditional pork, making it a perfect substitute for a variety of recipes and cooking scenarios. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/800/taiwans-delta-cooperates-to-breed-heat-tolerant-coral.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/800/taiwans-delta-cooperates-to-breed-heat-tolerant-coral.html Thu, 20 Apr 2023 08:56:00 +0530 Collaborates with National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium to adopt novel coral breeding technology for corals restoration Taiwan's Delta Electronics collaborated with country's National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium from to proactively protect biodiversity by restoring coral. During the coral breeding season, volunteers and researchers collected coral sperm and eggs and conducted artificial insemination and incubation in the laboratory to increase coral colonization success. Leveraging its expertise in industrial automation, Delta has developed a customized coral incubator and vertical coral breeding system based on the Delta Plant Factory. The breeding system adopts an LED light system with a special spectrum to accelerate coral growth with programmable logic controllers that regularly feed and change water. Delta is assisting the museum in breeding heat-tolerant coral to cope with increasingly frequent marine heatwaves, fulfilling its "Climate Change" and "Life Below Water" sustainable development goals. "In the past, it was difficult to break through the traditional environment bottlenecks. With the assistance of Delta's technology and equipment, we expect to complete the collection and incubation of 10 types of coral in southern Taiwan in the first stage. We will build on the research on coral symbiosis and the breeding of heat-tolerant coral to conduct research on culturing heat-tolerant phycobionts to reduce coral bleaching", said the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium Director Chii-Shiarng Chen. Wim Chang, CEO of the Delta Electronics Foundation, said, "Climate models project increases in the frequency of marine heatwaves by 2081-2100 by approximately 50 times relative to the period of 1850-1900. This may result in severe coral bleaching. Delta's volunteers have received two years of training from the museum's researchers. In addition to obtaining CoralNet certification and with the guidance of researchers, they have marked spawning coral and set up collection nets for the first time this year, to contribute to the research of heat-tolerant coral. Delta's technology, along with microcomputer tomography equipment, will further accelerate the progress of breeding heat-tolerant coral in the lab. The foundation will also continue to work with research institutions and restoration groups to expand the restoration endeavours and move toward international biodiversity goals." April is the coral breeding season in southern Taiwan. Besides attracting recreational divers, the spectacular mass coral spawning in the Kenting waters also offers a critical time of the year for coral research. The heat-tolerant coral currently selected by the museum for restoration is Pocillopora acuta. Delta's volunteers assist with the collection of sperm and eggs, participate in in-depth transplantation research, and regularly monitor the process in the sea.  The coral vertical breeding system developed by Delta has research parameters that can be adjusted to simulate warming environments for different types of coral to explore their heat tolerance. Delta's microcomputer tomography equipment was also adopted to analyze factors such as coral bone density, soft tissue, and the composition of phycobionts to identify the optimal coral breeding conditions. In addition, Delta is paying close attention to climate change, protect biodiversity, and assist domestic indicative research institutions in overcoming their existing laboratories' traditional breeding environment and technology challenges. These efforts are improving the institutions' research results and allowing them to catch up with their international counterparts, as they preserve coral species by making them resilient enough to withstand marine heatwaves and extreme climate change. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/704/taiwan-pledges-to-practice-transition-to-net-zero-carbon-emissions.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/704/taiwan-pledges-to-practice-transition-to-net-zero-carbon-emissions.html Mon, 03 Apr 2023 07:59:00 +0530 Leaders from Industry, Government and Academia Unite to Enter the Zero Carbon Era   The 3rd Taiwan International Summit has witnessed the pledging of Taiwan's leaders from Industry, Government and Academia Unite to to find solutions to put Taiwan on the zero carbon path. Taiwan is determined to accelerate the Transition to Net Zero Carbon Era, iterated President Tsai Ing-wen. According to Jason Huang, Stantec Consulting Services' country manager in Taiwan, urban water projects must be resilient and sustainable if they are to succeed. Among the initiatives he presented were the development of a circular system, water harvesting, coexistence with water, maintaining water security in food production, implementing smart technology solutions to water challenges, and facilitating everyone's access to water. Tao Zhu Yin Yuan (or Agora Garden) is Taiwan's most famous eco-friendly building. With a 246% vegetation cover, the project can absorb up to 130 tonnes of carbon per year and irrigate the surrounding trees with excess rainfall, making it a low-carbon building. The Taiwanese operator's chief financial officer, Vincent YS Chen, explained Chunghwa Telecom's goals: halving carbon emissions by 2030, switching to 100% renewable energy by 2040, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/466/taiwan-to-promote-plant-based-food-follows-new-climate-bill.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/466/taiwan-to-promote-plant-based-food-follows-new-climate-bill.html Wed, 25 Jan 2023 14:30:01 +0530 The bill says that the Council of Agriculture must promote waste reduction and low-carbon diets Taiwan has approved a climate bill to promote low-carbon diets which mandate the countrywide promotion of low-carbon diets, with specific reference made to plant-based foods. The bill says that the Council of Agriculture must promote waste reduction and low-carbon diets, with the latter category including plant-based and locally-produced foods. According to article 42, all levels of government should promote these foods, and mandate support for civil society organisations working towards low-carbon diets. The legislation makes Taiwan one of only a small number of regions to reference plant-based foods in their climate laws. The government’s target of net zero emissions by 2050 has also been made legally binding, with government agencies required to implement plans to reduce emissions. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/440/japan-becomes-the-largest-market-for-taiwanese-fruits.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/440/japan-becomes-the-largest-market-for-taiwanese-fruits.html Wed, 18 Jan 2023 15:40:38 +0530 Japan became the largest market for Taiwanese fruit exports accounting for 46.2 per cent in 2022 Japan has surpassed China as the largest market for Taiwan’s fruit exports according to data from Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture (COA). China was a major importer of Taiwanese fruit exports, but it imposed a ban on pineapples, sugar apples, wax apples, citrus and other fruits recently. According to the local media, Japan was the focus of the Taiwan response as it joined exporters in exploring other channels. As a result, the value of Taiwan’s agricultural product exports to Japan in 2022 reached $850, an increase of 11 per cent from a year ago. Japan became the largest market for Taiwanese fruit exports accounting for 46.2 per cent in 2022, meanwhile, China accounted for only 1.6 per cent.  The value of Taiwanese pineapples exported to Japan reached $ 24.05 million in 2022, an increase of 5.8 per cent over the previous year.  The COA has connected fruit distributors in Taiwan and Japan and announced in December 2022 that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Japanese produce chain Wismettac Foods to import at least 3,500 tonnes of Taiwanese pineapples, 1,500 tonnes of bananas, and 100 tonnes of frozen pineapples. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/372/taiwan-becomes-swine-fever-and-disease-free-country.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/372/taiwan-becomes-swine-fever-and-disease-free-country.html Mon, 02 Jan 2023 15:16:37 +0530 Taiwan would become one of the few nations free of the three major diseases that affect pigs Taiwan has become a swine fever and disease-free country, without the need for vaccination, according to the Council of Agriculture (COA) of Taiwan. Taiwan took only six years to alleviate swine disease Huang Chin-cheng, Deputy Minister CAO said. After keeping African swine fever at bay in 2018, the World Organisation for Animal Health declared Taiwan proper, Penghu and Matsu free of foot-and-mouth disease and in 2020 allowed pork exports from those areas. According to the local media, nations such as Japan still ban imports of pork products from areas with classical swine fever, including Taiwan. The council announced that from next year, domestic pigs and piglets would not have to receive vaccinations for classical swine fever. From July 1, breeding pigs would also not have to receive that vaccination, it added. Ending classical swine fever vaccinations can lift pig farmers’ confidence and save up to NT$700 million ($22.8 million) a year in vaccination and labour costs, Huang said. The council plans to apply to the world animal health body in June 2024 for Taiwan to be recognised as free from classical swine fever when vaccinations have not been used for a year. The application is to undergo a review process, which takes about two months, Tu Wen-jane, Director-General, of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine said. If the application is successful, Taiwan would be declared a swine fever-free area at the organisation’s conference in 2025 and would be the first Asian nation to be approved, she said. Taiwan would become one of the few nations free of the three major diseases that affect pigs — foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever and African swine fever — which would boost the competitiveness of the nation’s pork products, Chen Chi-Chung said. The achievement is a result of pig farmers’ cooperation, the COA’s policies and leadership, and the implementation of a plan by the bureau and the institute, Chen said. Stepping up quarantine measures at customs and checking mail and packages to guard against African swine fever were crucial to preventing it from entering Taiwan, and also reducing the risk of foot-and-mouth disease and classical swine fever, he said. The COA would continue to help meat processing plants obtain hazard analysis and critical control points certification, set up a slaughterhouse-to-butcher cold chain in the pork industry and upgrade facilities on pig farms, he added. The government would continue to strictly control foreign pork products entering Taiwan and improve the treatment of kitchen waste before feeding it to pigs, Huang said. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/361/himax-unites-with-seeed-studio-to-bring-sensecap-lorawan-vision-ai-sensor-to-smart-agriculture.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/361/himax-unites-with-seeed-studio-to-bring-sensecap-lorawan-vision-ai-sensor-to-smart-agriculture.html Thu, 29 Dec 2022 17:57:23 +0530 Himax and Seeed Studio will showcase the SenseCAP A1101 sensor which has already been applied to real smart agriculture cases. Himax Technologies, Inc. a leading supplier and fabless manufacturer of display drivers and other semiconductor products, and Seeed Studio, the IoT hardware partner providing services that empower developers to implement their projects and products for digital transformation, announced the joint showcase of the SenseCAP A1101 LoRaWAN Vision AI Sensor, embedded with Himax WiseEye™ smart image sensing solution (WiseEye), at the upcoming CES 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Seeed Studio, with its tinyML Edge AI platform enabling expertise, has created a plug-and-play and easy-to-integrate SenseCAP A1101 vision sensor that runs machine learning in support of a variety of AI models, such as image recognition, people counting, target detection, meter recognition and many others. This industry-leading battery-powered sensor solution incorporates Himax HM0360 CMOS image sensor, supporting up to 60 FPS VGA solution, and WiseEye WE1 AI processor, running at 400MHz local inferencing that facilitates powerful machine learning at extremely low power consumption, as well as a LoRaWAN module, featuring low-power, wide-area (LPWA) networking protocol for long-range networks. At CES, Himax and Seeed Studio will showcase the SenseCAP A1101 sensor which has already been applied to real smart agriculture cases. Powered by Himax’s ultralow power WiseEye technology, the SenseCAP A1101 vision AI sensor can operate for over 9 months while continuously collecting field images and uploading the final data results from local inferencing every minute. The vision AI sensor hardware is designed to adopt high industrial protection grade that supports an operating temperature range of -40 to 85 degrees Celsius and IP66 waterproof rating, making it a good fit for IoT applications placed either in outdoor or indoor argo-ecosystems. The sensor solution also supports rapid configuration of the Bluetooth APP, and fast connection to gateways and cloud servers, with only few clicks setup. “We’re really happy and honored to work with Himax to embed their WiseEye solution to this Vision AI device. To be the most reliable IoT Hardware Partner for global developers, we at Seeed are always looking to integrate advanced technologies into ready-to-deploy hardware solutions for digital transformation in vertical industries,” said Joey Jiang, GM of Industry and Application Group of Seeed Studio. “Working with Himax is yet another step forward in Seeed’s Vision to empower every developer to achieve their digital transformation goals with Vision AI technology. With SenseCAP A1101 LoRaWAN Vision AI Sensor, the developers can combine vision and LPWAN to their IoT solutions to serve various scenarios of smart farming, smart metering and more.” “Seeed Studio is one of the leading AI platforms in the world and our collaboration in the smart agriculture application is a further validation of the suitability of our WiseEye technology to a wide range of markets,” said Jordan Wu, CEO of Himax. “The demand for battery-powered smart devices with AI-enabled smart sensing is rapidly growing providing an opportunity for us to further expand by joining forces with other AI platform partners by offering value-added features for our customers in terms of privacy, security, and superior battery life for diversified endpoint AI devices.” ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/356/agricultural-products-in-taiwan-to-be-regulated-from-1st-jan.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/356/agricultural-products-in-taiwan-to-be-regulated-from-1st-jan.html Wed, 28 Dec 2022 18:53:02 +0530 Testing methods are being developed to identify the source of more agricultural and fishery products. Tea, agricultural and fishery products in Taiwan are set to be regulated from 1st Jan 2023. Taiwan Government is establishing a traceability system, according to the Council of Agriculture (COA). Domestically cultivated tea must be certificated with an indication of its origin, such as a QR code or a label listing it as organic. The measure will be introduced to fight counterfeit tea being labelled as Taiwan tea. Over 4,000 businesses in the tea industry have registered their products as required by the Agricultural and Food Agency. False or inadequate labelling will incur penalties pursuant to the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation and information about the businesses held liable will be published, according to the COA. COA Minister Chen Chi-Chung said testing methods are being developed to identify the source of more agricultural and fishery products. Oysters, garlic, and shiitake mushrooms are among those to be incorporated into the traceability mechanism. In October, Kaohsiung seized 107 tons of tea leaves that claimed to have been grown in Taiwan but were actually produced in China and smuggled via Vietnam. The products, marketed as prime Taiwan tea, were distributed by a prominent tea dealer in Gangshan District. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/320/us-becomes-taiwans-largest-agri-importer-tsai-ing-wen.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/320/us-becomes-taiwans-largest-agri-importer-tsai-ing-wen.html Mon, 19 Dec 2022 14:14:18 +0530 She promised the government would do its best to help the farmers and fishermen who had lost their market in China by finding alternatives. The United States is becoming the largest market for Taiwan’s agricultural products export, Taiwan’s agricultural export reached a record value of $5.67 billion last year, due to Taiwan’s diversification policies, said Tsai Ing-wen, President of Taiwan. She was speaking after China imposed a ban on the import of food and beverage products from Taiwan, including fish, seafood, fruit and beer. Tsai told Taiwan’s agricultural exports were no longer dependent on just one export market. According to the local media, the U.S., Japan, Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and Indonesia also welcomed agricultural products from Taiwan. She promised the government would do its best to help the farmers and fishermen who had lost their market in China by finding alternatives. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/302/taiwan-raises-issue-to-wto-regarding-chinas-trading-policy.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/302/taiwan-raises-issue-to-wto-regarding-chinas-trading-policy.html Wed, 14 Dec 2022 14:05:16 +0530 Canada, Australia, the United States, Japan, and the European Union also raise concerns Taiwan’s agriculture council has raised the issue of China’s lack of transparency in trading regulations at regular committee meetings at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) after China imposed a ban on fish products from Taiwan.   China continues to ban the import of pineapples, custard apples, wax apples and citrus fruits from Taiwan. Some of the bans have lasted over a year. According to the local media, Taiwan has asked China to provide reports for the ban according to international trade regulations but China did not reply officially. The council mentioned, it has already improved fruit packaging-related processes that China cites as their reason for the ban. The council has also made multiple attempts for further discussions with China but again no response from China.  The council stated that Taiwan has brought up specific trade concerns about China nine times so far. That's since the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade regular meeting in 2020. Taiwan, along with Canada, Australia, the United States, Japan, and the European Union have raised concerns about China’s lack of transparency in trade regulations.  Taiwan, a WTO member, has the right to raise specific trade concerns at committee meetings and demand fair negotiations with China. The agriculture council emphasizes China should base their trade regulations on factual data instead of bias against Taiwan.  ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/292/taiwan-to-redirect-seafood-export-to-southeast-asia-after-banning-from-china.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/292/taiwan-to-redirect-seafood-export-to-southeast-asia-after-banning-from-china.html Mon, 12 Dec 2022 16:53:24 +0530 The new import ban includes the East Asian four-finger, skipjack tuna, Pacific saury, and squid Taiwan will redirect seafood exports to Southeast Asia from China after a fresh ban imposed by China. Officials in Taiwan are criticising it as politically motivated. According to the Taiwanese media, China has imposed a new import ban on Taiwan’s fish products including the East Asian four-finger, skipjack tuna, Pacific saury, and squid, referring to registration issues. According to Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA), more than 178 items have been affected by the new measure by China. Most of the banned seafood is shipped to China for canning before being exported to other markets. The Taiwan government will help businesses hit by the Chinese ban divert goods to Southeast Asian countries. Taiwan is also boasting food processing countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam, according to COA. Earlier this year, China stopped importing fish from Taiwan over the alleged detection of prohibited chemicals. The latest ban involves more seafood and beverages like beer and sorghum liquor. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/286/taiwan-us-conducts-research-on-pacific-bluefin-tuna.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/286/taiwan-us-conducts-research-on-pacific-bluefin-tuna.html Fri, 09 Dec 2022 16:08:33 +0530 For the research, three adult Bluefin tunas weighing 180kg to 300kg were equipped with trackers. Taiwanese and US researchers have conducted the study to track the spawning and migration patterns of Pacific Bluefin tuna. This is the first-ever study conducted by researchers of the Fisheries Research Institute Taiwan and Stanford University, According to the local media, Taiwan is one of the countries that harvest the Pacific Bluefin tuna and one of three species of Bluefin — that can live for up to 40 years, grow more than 4 meters long and weigh up to 700kg. For the research, three adult Bluefin weighing 180kg to 300kg were equipped with trackers, so researchers could monitor the fish during their 3,000km transit from eastern Taiwan seawater to northern Japan’s Hokkaido Island. The tracker accumulated a recording time of around 127 days. The data from the trackers showed that the movement and diving patterns of the Pacific Bluefin differ between day and night. During the day, the fish swam in depths of 300 meters to 500 meters but would rise to 200 meters-deep water in the ocean’s thermocline layer during the hours of darkness. Pacific Bluefin are known for their physical strength and ability to elude fishers by struggling in and snapping fishing lines. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/285/china-denies-permission-to-taiwanese-seafood-exporters.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/285/china-denies-permission-to-taiwanese-seafood-exporters.html Fri, 09 Dec 2022 15:14:20 +0530 The Chinese authorities introduced a new customs registration system due to which the issue appeared. Chinese authorities have not given permission to more than 100 Taiwanese seafood exporters to ship their products to China. Taiwanese authorities are investigating for reasons, the Council of Agriculture (COA) said. According to the local media, due to this the affected products mainly include squid, Pacific saury and forefinger threadfin. applications from over 100 Taiwanese exporters are being held up, while only one exporter has been granted approval, the COA has asked the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration to clarify the matter with Chinese authorities. The Chinese authorities introduced a new customs registration system due to which the issue appeared. According to the new systems, exporters were required to submit the necessary documents by the end of August.  Since June, China's General Administration of Customs has gradually halted the import of grouper, large head hairtail and horse mackerel from Taiwan, a ban which was later expanded to include products of multiple Taiwanese food brands. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/179/belize-ministry-of-agriculture-and-taiwan-icdf-inaugurates-new-sheep-barn.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/179/belize-ministry-of-agriculture-and-taiwan-icdf-inaugurates-new-sheep-barn.html Mon, 14 Nov 2022 12:37:06 +0530 The facility will improve the function of the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center by increasing the capacity of barn infrastructure from 400 to 650 sheep. Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE), in collaboration with the Taiwan ICDF Breeding Sheep and Goat Production and Guidance System Enhancement Project (Sheep Project Phase II), inaugurated at the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center in Central Farm. The facility will improve the function of the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center by increasing the capacity of barn infrastructure from 400 to 650 sheep. In addition, the related components of the new sheep barn, such as the gutter system (also known as a water harvesting system), will enhance the management and sustainability of water utilization. It is one of the main achievements so far of the Sheep Project Phase II. In his remarks, Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, spoke about the growth of the sheep and goat livestock sub-sector and the success of the Taiwan Breeding Sheep and goat program thus far with increases in the quality of lamb and goat meats available for consumption due to better breeds and higher local production. He said there is much more to achieve as Belize keeps an eye on export market opportunities. The ceremony not only marked a historic milestone of the Breeding Sheep and Goat Project in Belize but also gives evidence of the strong ties between Taiwan and Belize. The governments of Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan) are committed to working closely together to strengthen Belize's sheep and goat industry by further bilateral cooperation in agriculture, which will enhance the welfare of the Belizean people. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/149/taiwan-develops-toxin-free-biopesticide.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/149/taiwan-develops-toxin-free-biopesticide.html Tue, 08 Nov 2022 12:08:01 +0530 Taiwan Agricultural Chemical and Toxic Substance Research Institute has developed a toxin-free biopesticide which can protect crops from intractable pests.  For the last 18 years, researchers are working on biopesticide, which is based on photorhabdus luminescence, a bacterial insect pathogen. Taiwan is the first country to mass produce this product.   According to the statement, the biopesticide has been proven to have excellent ovicidal activity against hard-to-control pests such as spider mites, which are often found in papaya, other fruit trees and flowering plants. The institute will apply to the Council of Agriculture to authorize the mass production and sale of biopesticide in Taiwan. The research was initially inspired by a 2003 study published by the University of Wisconsin in the United States about the efficacy of photorhabdus luminesces in killing pests and bacteria, but was performed on a local photorhabdus luminesces strain. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/104/proteon-pharma-appoints-dr-sachin-ingewar-as-regional-sales-director-india-subcontinent-and-se-asia-region.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/104/proteon-pharma-appoints-dr-sachin-ingewar-as-regional-sales-director-india-subcontinent-and-se-asia-region.html Sat, 10 Sep 2022 10:40:41 +0530 Dr Ingewar will drive Proteon’s growth strategies across the regions to support the poultry industry in achieving safe and sustainable production In line with its expansion plans, Proteon Pharmaceuticals India, a subsidiary of Proteon Pharmaceuticals SA Poland, announced the appointment of Dr Sachin Ingewar as Regional Sales Director for the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia Region. Dr Ingewar will drive Proteon’s growth strategies across the regions to support the poultry industry in achieving safe and sustainable production. As a poultry nutritionist with over 20 years of comprehensive experience in sales and marketing, Dr Sachin has been highly successful in spearheading business in the industry through sustained revenue growth, specifically in the South East Asian markets. Having strong technical knowledge and expertise in strategic planning and execution, together with account management focused on precise pre and post-sales efforts, Dr Ingewar has been known for improving organisational performance and unlocking new business opportunities through strategic alliances with key decision-makers. He is a visionary who drives revenues and rapid growth profitability with a focus on building a strong corporate culture. Dr Ingewar has completed his Masters in Animal Nutrition with Poultry Major. Elaborating on his new role at Proteon Pharmaceuticals, Dr Ingewar said, “This leadership role at Proteon is to develop our business in bacteriophages in the ISC and SEA and strengthen the presence of Proteon in the region. We aim to help poultry, aqua and the ruminant industry to achieve safe and sustainable production. We aim to build awareness about the need to reduce the usage of antibiotics in animal production. All in all, we are here to stay: #CareForAll- environment, humans and animal wellbeing.” Commenting on Dr Ingewar’s joining, Dr Paolo Doncecchi, Global Sales Director, Proteon Pharmaceuticals, said, “I am excited about this critical addition to our ISC Proteon organisation. Dr Sachin will bring market knowledge, business acumen and an empathic approach to people. Together, we will bring Proteon to new heights by serving customer needs.” ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/103/seed-treatment-market-worth-9-2-bn-by-2027-marketsandmarkets-2.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/113/103/seed-treatment-market-worth-9-2-bn-by-2027-marketsandmarkets-2.html Sat, 10 Sep 2022 10:38:54 +0530 The Asia Pacific accounted for the fastest region, during the forecast period, in terms of volume and value According to the report titled ‘Seed Treatment Market by Type, Application Technique (Coating, Dressing, Pelleting), Function (Seed Protection and Seed Enhancement), Formulation, Crop Type (Cereals & Grains, Oilseeds, Fruits & Vegetables), and Region – Global Forecast to 2027’, published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated at $6.1 billion in 2022; it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.3 per cent to reach $9.2 billion by 2027. The Asia Pacific accounted for the fastest region, during the forecast period, in terms of volume and value, respectively. The Asia Pacific consists of the largest developing countries with vast agricultural lands as compared to other regions. The per capita income of the region depends on the agricultural activities conducted in the countries. The key countries that play an important role in the agriculture sector in this region are India, China, Japan, and Thailand. Cereals and grains, fruits and vegetables, are the leading agricultural commodities grown in these countries. Rice cultivation and the predominance of small-scale manufacturers are widely seen across all the countries of Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific seed treatment market is projected to grow with the highest CAGR due to the growing agriculture industry in China and Japan. Demand for seed treatment has been growing in this region, due to global players increasing their investments of business lines in agricultural inputs to exclusively meet the demand of crop growers to attain export quality. Additionally, the regulations for seed treatment are favourable in this region. China is estimated to account for the largest share in the Asia Pacific seed treatment market. ]]>