In response to the rapid expansion of demand in the global seafood market, Taiwan and the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) are jointly holding the “Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability Applied in Aquaculture” to promote the use of AI to further technological and industrial upgrading in the aquaculture sector. The workshop is being held from June 3 to 6, 2025 in Tainan. The participants are from the public and private sectors of 14 countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye, Vietnam, and the Republic of China (Taiwan). They are engaging in in-depth exploration of challenges in aquaculture (including climate change) and how to apply AI technology to monitor and control aquaculture operations and enhance production efficiency. Through this workshop hosted in Taiwan, representatives of various APO members have been brought together to engage in face-to-face exchanges in order to form a consensus on the pursuit of sustainable production and show their determination to contribute to global food security through the upgrading of the aquaculture industry.

The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) explains that for this workshop experts have been specially invited from Korea, Thailand, Italy, and Taiwan to offer instruction on critical issues including water quality monitoring and control, disease precautions, smart feeding, and traceability mechanisms. There is a special emphasis on local applications of technologies such as AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchains to enhance the efficiency of artificial seafood farming and conform to the objectives of environmentally friendly adaptability and sustainable production. The event includes a special on-site visit to the Apollo Aquatic Product company to see environmentally friendly aquaculture methods for raising milkfish, and a seafood processing plant meeting the international standards set by the European Union. There is also a trip to the International Center for the Scientific Development of Shrimp Aquaculture at National Cheng Kung University to visit its germplasm breeding center for giant tiger prawn and its WOAH-certified “Reference Laboratory” for white spot disease and acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease in shrimp. These visits are giving representatives of APO members an in-depth introduction to Taiwan’s achievements in the promotion of environmentally sustainable aquaculture, control and R&D of germplasm for aquatic creatures, and disease management and control in aquaculture.

The MOA emphasizes that Taiwan and other countries in Asia face many challenges agriculture and fisheries development and to enhancing productivity. Through international forums like this workshop, innovative applications for AI in the development of various industries can be explored. Such events will also raise the profile of Taiwan’s smart agriculture technologies and innovative materials in the international market and hopefully help Taiwan to guide enterprises to meet the highest international industrial standards.