II. Science-based Agri-industries
To build up Taiwan as a leading country in agro-biotechnology and tropical flowers in the Asia-Pacific region, the COA has tried to establish five agro-biotechnology parks. The Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnology Park in southern Taiwan has completed its infrastructure construction in a land area of 233 hectares. The phase one of standard factory buildings were completed in September 2007. By the end of 2007, 58 corporations had set up shop; among them 14 are in operation and five have installed their own facilities. So far the total investment is NT$3.079 billion. Taiwan Orchid Plantation in Tainan County has completed the first two phases of infrastructure construction, and admitted 29 corporations, which has reached the park’s full capacity. At present, 12 of them are in operation. The National Flower Park in Changhua County has completed the construction of exhibition greenhouses and outsourced their operations. The first phase of the 53-hectare nursery specifically designed for ornamental plants was completed, and the second and third phases are still in progress. The Chiayi County Government already signed the build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract for the Chiayi Herbal and Medicinal Plant Park on January 13, 2006, and licensed two corporations to operate in the park. Its four water supply systems were completed in 2007. The Yilan County Government is still in the process of establishing a marine biotechnology park in the county.
During the year, there were 18 applications and 7 approvals pursuant to the COA’s measures to assist agribusinesses in advancing their R&D capacity. This has led private agricultural enterprises to invest NT$29.54 million in R&D. Furthermore, the COA launched the "Agricultural Technology Venture Capital Plan” in 2007. The plan calls for NT$10 billion investment within five years to nurture the development of modern agricultural enterprises.