The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF) held the 19^th Taiwan-Australia Agricultural Working Group (AWG) Meeting on February 19 in Brisbane, Australia. Based on the long-term cooperation between the two parties, in addition to engaging in exchanges on policy priorities, market access for various products, and extending technical cooperation for dealing with climate change, this latest AWG Meeting also incorporated issues related to indigenous policies as well as applications of agricultural unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and AI automation. Additionally, both sides exchanged insights on differences in their systems for responding to industry needs with respect to trade, exports, government agricultural research, agricultural R&D funds, and the prospects for commercial linkages. The aim of the meeting was to continue to build a comprehensive Taiwan-Australia agricultural cooperative partnership.

The MOA states that it was Australia’s turn to host this year’s meeting. To strengthen bilateral trade and investment and enhance international agricultural participation, the meeting was specially arranged in Brisbane, Queensland. The MOA also led a delegation of Taiwanese agricultural innovation companies to attend “EvokeAg 2025.” Among these firms, Advanced Green Biotechnology Incorporated was invited to participate in an international pitch challenge alongside 11 other enterprises from 8 countries to share their research achievements, showcasing Taiwan’s soft power in the areas of agricultural technology applications and cross-domain cooperation capabilities.

The MOA points out that this bilateral cooperation meeting produced fruitful results. Regarding market access, Australia confirmed that it would maintain Taiwan’s import permit for whole farmed finfish during the re-evaluation of biosecurity risk assessments. They also anticipated that they would approve imports of processed salmon products into Australia from Taiwan in the first quarter of this year. Furthermore, in June they expect to announce the draft of conditions for the import of Taiwan guavas. With regard to Tainung No. 6 and No. 7 lychees, new progress is expected in 2025. In the future the agricultural ministries of both countries will assist industry linkages to facilitate mutually beneficial commercial cooperation models.

During the meeting, both sides engaged in in-depth exchanges on climate change adaptation policies. Moving forward, they will establish exchange programs focusing on the utilization of Australia’s Future Drought Fund, implementation methods for the verified carbon credit system, biosafety training for indigenous rangers, experiences with demonstration areas, as well as applications of UAVs for pest monitoring and control technologies. Additionally, DAFF will also assist in linking the soil information and monitoring systems for climate change adaptation and building of environmental sustainability as well as beekeeping registration management systems. Other areas of collaboration include prevention of diseases and insect pests, biosecurity, quarantine treatment technology, testing methods for resistance to Fusarium wilt (Panama disease) in bananas, the promotion of ESG programs through the quantification of the diverse values of organic agriculture, and traded seed certification technology. Taiwan and Australia will strengthen bilateral and multilateral exchange programs and will work together to construct an even better ecosystem for agri-food innovation.

The 19^th Taiwan-Australia Agricultural Working Group Meeting was held in Brisbane, Australia. Through in-person and online meetings, in-depth discussion were held with Australian officials, with fruitful results.

A group photo of members of the two delegations to the 19^th Taiwan-Australia Agricultural Working Group Meeting.

A group photo of Hsiou Dong-chong, Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Department of International Affairs, and members of the Taiwan delegation at the welcome breakfast of “EvokeAg 2025.”

A group photo of Hsiou Dong-chong, Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Department of International Affairs, and members of the Taiwan delegation at the welcome breakfast of “EvokeAg 2025.”

The Taiwan firm -Advanced Green Biotechnology Incorporated was invited to participate in an international pitch challenge where, alongside 11 other companies from 8 countries, they shared their research results.