The International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), founded in 1959, is comprising over 67,000 members in 140 countries and regions around the globe. On August 13, the ISHS held a joint meeting of its Executive Committee and Council in Angers, France. Prof. Dr. Yao-Chien Alex Chang at National Taiwan University who is Taiwan’s national representative in the ISHS Council, won the seat of the four-year representative for the Asian region on the ISHS Board by receiving 24 votes out of 33 present national representatives. The election result was approved by the General Assembly on August 18. The Council of Agriculture (COA) says that the ISHS is the world’s most important international horticultural academic organization. Its Board has only nine members, of which six are elected to represent Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania. Being elected as the representative for the Asian region, gives Taiwan the opportunity to engage in the decision-making in ISHS in the coming four years, and also indicates a high level of affirmation and support from other members. It marks a significant accomplishment for Taiwan’s participation in important international academic organizations since becoming a member of the ISHS in 1990.

The objective of ISHS is to promote research and education in the field of horticultural science, and is an important global source of the latest horticultural technology and information. Through a variety of international cooperation and exchange programs, including the International Horticultural Congress, international conferences, and symposia on special topics, as well as publication of high-quality academic periodicals and professional journals, the horticultural science research and technology has been successfully transferred worldwide. The COA notes that since Taiwan joined as a country member in 1990, it has actively participated in ISHS meetings and activities. In recent years, Taiwan has worked with ISHS to hold the “GA3 Symposium,” the “International Symposium on Bonsai,” and the “International Symposium on Horticultural Therapies,” earning praise from member countries.

International Horticulture Congress held in Angers, France this year. There were nearly 2,300 government officials, academics, and industry representatives in attendance. More than 40 researchers from Taiwan (from institutions including the COA’s Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, the Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, National Taiwan University, National Chung Hsing University, and National Pingtung University of Science and Technology) attended and presented reports on their research, as well as exchanges with experts from the horticultural industries in various countries. The COA states Taiwan will, through participation in the decision-making process in ISHS, continue to support the expansion of ISHS operations, and deepen substantive cooperation and exchange with other countries, with the aim of raising Taiwan’s international profile.