Promoting the industrialization of agro-technology

Industrialization of agro-technology IPRs

The COA has been very active in working to protect and utilize intellectual property rights (IPRs). We have been instrumental in 68 cases of acquisition of IPRs, including 31 patents and 37 plant varieties. There were 123 new cases of technology transfer, and in 2013 income from our technology transfer totaled NT$84.12 million, the highest ever and an increase of 10% over 2012. The COA also hosted the “Pavilion of Agriculture” at the 2013 Taipei International Invention Show and TechnoMart, exhibiting 45 technologies. Among these were: (a) fingerling production techniques for the Plectropomus Leopardus; (b) production techniques for the fungus Cordyceps militaris; (c) facilities for automatic collection of duck eggs; and (d) bivalent vaccine for infections of nerve necrosis virus (NNV) and iridovirus in grouper. Moreover, there were 74 direct one-on-one negotiations, of which 29 successfully resulted in technology transfer, with earnings of NT$13.95 million. Finally, as we will see below, Taiwan’s animal vaccine industry has attracted the attention of major international corporations seeking to enter technology transfer relationships with Taiwan.

To ensure that the parallel processes of IPR creation and industrialization of our R&D can be sustained, the COA will continue to train (a) skilled people for the agro-technology sector, and (b) management personnel for technology-based agro-enterprises.

Energy-saving technologies for agriculture

Work has been completed to improve management techniques for “facility-grown vegetables” (green onions, coriander), including R&D to determine the ideal conditions and most efficient management techniques for vertical cultivation. To determine the economic feasibility of these vertical techniques, the COA completed a survey and analysis of the operating costs and profits of households that farm green onion and coriander using traditional methods.

We have also modeled a production system, which will fit with all types of facility agriculture, which will be energy- saving, water-saving, and environmentally friendly. It includes linking solar power generation with facility agriculture, putting up elevated sun-tracking solar energy generating systems with a total capacity of 32 kWp, generating over 47,000 units of electricity per year. Applying solar power will increase the production value per unit of land and open up economic opportunities for land that is otherwise very difficult to cultivate.

International certification for production of miniature pigs for experimental uses

The COA’s Livestock Research Institute (LRI) has been working to achieve the policy objective “Promote development of bio-pharmaceutical products,” and has successfully built a system for production of high-quality miniature pigs for experimental uses. In February, the LRI won international accreditation for experimental animals from the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International. This means that the quality and reliability of the LRI’s production system meets international standards, making the LRI the first ever organization in the world to win accreditation for a livestock animal transformed into an experimental animal. This is a very important step in terms of Taiwan’s development of its experimental-animal industry and its need to meet international standards. Moreover, as a result of the reliability of Taiwan’s experimental- animal production system and the winning of international accreditation, pharmaceutical experiments conducted using these animals will be readily accepted and trusted. This will in turn be helpful to raising the competitiveness and visibility of Taiwan’s bio-pharmaceutical industry.

Internationalization of the animal vaccine industry

The Animal Health Research Institute of the COA and the Animal Technology Institute Taiwan (ATIT) have done the R&D to create manufacturing technology for a number of animal vaccines. These successes, plus the investment environment provided by the COA’s Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnology Park (PABP), attracted the German company Lohmann Animal Health to apply in July of 2013 for approval to invest in the PABP. Lohmann has moreover signed a strategic partnership agreement with the COA. It is estimated that the company’s Phase One investment alone will be NT$1 billion. The ATIT’s Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae subunit vaccine technology was successfully transferred to Lohmann in December of 2013, for the highest amount ever received in Taiwan for technology transfer of an animal vaccine, indicating that Taiwan’s animal vaccine R&D has reached international standards and can be globally competitive.

Moreover, the COA actively assists investors to build customized factories for their special needs, which should drive demand for technically skilled personnel, as well as drive growth in peripheral industries like testing-and-inspection, vaccine adjuvants, and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) eggs. These personnel and peripheral industries will provide critical support for the continued internationalization of Taiwan’s animal vaccine industry.

Agricultural cloud information services

Traceability of food and construction of a “food traceability cloud”

The COA has been working steadily for many years now to strengthen traceability systems for domestic food. In 2013:

(1) The COA strengthened the CAS system in order to upgrade the ability of firms that already have earned the CAS premium- quality certification to trace and manage their product chain, and in particular to trace the raw materials used in their CAS- labeled products; we have already assisted 54 firms that produce premium products to create information systems for production of their certified products.

(2) We also continued to promote a traceability system for domestic beef, starting right from the ranch through the slaughterhouse and butchering through to the end point of sale; 25,400 head of cattle have been registered and tagged, so that health-conscious consumers can track the whole sourcing process for domestic beef.

(3) The COA also guided the organic farming industry to strengthen product traceability, making available to the public records of product quality and testing, special features of the product, the farm’s certification status (fully certified, trial certified, not yet certified as organic), and other data.

(4) Finally, in coordination with the Executive Yuan’s “Food Traceability Cloud” concept, we implemented four major demonstration food traceability networks—for fresh foods sold at supermarkets, for food and beverages sold by large chain restaurants, for school lunches, and for processed meat products—providing comprehensive tracking data and helping to ensure the safety of food for consumers.

Constructing an “agricultural production and market conditions cloud”

The COA has organized a comprehensive databank on the (i) farmed area, (ii) production quantity, and (iii) market conditions for all production in the farming, fisheries, and animal husbandry sectors. This gives up a complete grasp of the production-and-market conditions for domestic agro-products. This information is sent directly and automatically to users through multiple channels, tailored to the needs of each specific user. In 2013, the COA automatically sent out production-and-market- condition information 620,000 man-times. This marks an upgrading of the application of information to agriculture and has broadened the beneficiaries of IT services.

Also in 2013: (1) For two specific crops—paddy rice and corn—we sent out real-time (a) weather- risk information and (b) pest (insect/disease) control warnings, by drawing on data from, respectively, the Central Weather Bureau and local agricultural extension and research stations; the information and warnings were automatically sent directly to farmers who needed them. (2) We used satellite positioning and mobile equipment to survey planting information for 15 especially market-sensitive crops, such as garlic. (3) We also conducted complete township-wide surveys of the planted area of important crops in each location. We surveyed 14,983 hectares, covering 119 varieties of crops and collecting 59,542 data items.

In sum, through (i) the building of a modernized agricultural surveying system, (ii) the collation and organization of production-and-market information, and (iii) the use of information transmission platforms, we are building comprehensive “cloud services.”

The application of information and communications technology (ICT) to agriculture

The COA is continually strengthening the competitiveness of our agricultural sector through the application of ICT and intelligent systems to agricultural development. Major projects in 2013 were as follows:

◆Development of an automatic fertilizer and irrigation system with a remote end-user control system: After collecting data from weather and environmental sensors, these systems can automatically adjust the frequency of irrigation and consumption of water. End users can access data in real time for reference, making management of labor, water, and fertilizer resources much more efficient.

◆Development of an ICT-based monitoring and control system for plant factories: This system, whose development has resulted in two patent applications, was displayed and shared with the public at the “Plant Factory Exhibition” during the 2013 Photonics Festival Taiwan.

◆Construction of an information system using rapid-test data for toxic agro-chemical residues in agro-products: This system shortens the handling time for testing data, providing agricultural testing agencies and agro-product sellers with a higher sampling ratio. It also allows the COA to issue early warnings about high-risk fruits or vegetables (i.e. that have residual toxins), rewards testing stations for increasing the frequency and efficacy of sampling and screening, and raises the value-added to be derived from application of testing data.

◆Use of ICT to steadily build a management and traceability network for Taiwan agro-products: We introduced ICT into the traceability verification system, at both production and sales ends; taught makers of farm, fisheries, and animal husbandry products how to operate and apply the system; and raised the usage rate of labels printed for product traceability by 54% compared to 2012. Consumers now enjoy more dependable information than ever when shopping for domestic agro-products, increasing consumer trust.

◆Creation of a more sound trading system for poultry: Aiming to upgrade the efficiency, accuracy, and transparency of information for poultry auction markets, the COA linked RFID electronic labels with ICT to construct a real-time auction and bargaining system that threads together flows of money, goods, and information, providing comprehensive poultry trading information.

◆Construction of an information system for disaster prevention and relief: This system utilizes the Global Earth Enterprise display platform to (i) concentrate data, (ii) share data, and (iii) unify the purpose of the data, in order to create a complete system for making maps and retrieving data related to natural-disaster prevention and/or natural-disaster relief, and for making this information available to the public.

The application of ICT to value-added agriculture in FEPZs

The COA is promoting “value-added agriculture” within the government’s recently launched program for Free Economic Pilot Zones (FEPZs). In the first stage of the FEPZ plan, we are focusing on a few key value-added industries: (a) ornamental fish and peripheral products; (b) animal vaccines; and (c) processed farm, fisheries, and animal husbandry products. The COA’s role is currently centered on the FEPZ at the Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnology Park (PABP).

The COA has applied ICT at the Park by launching the “PABP Services E-Net for Investing Firms.” This is the model cloud platform for use in the field of value-added agriculture, and conforms to the FEPZ’s overall policy goals of openness and efficiency. This is a cloud platform for users to review customs forms, access insurance and tax services, do quality control for restricted products, meet import and export controls for aquatic creatures, do electronic book-keeping, and remote auditing for customs convenience. At the same time, the PABP offer customization of ICT services to individual investors, including guidance, consultation, education, and training, in order to raise the willingness of individual firms in the FEPZ to become “model enterprises” for the application of ICT.

PABP enterprises can access the “value-added agriculture cloud platform” via a single sign-in account to utilize all the various systems and services. Likewise, agencies in charge of administration can use the platform to monitor, approve, and audit operations, keeping fully informed at all times of the latest actions of enterprises.

Penetration of global markets for agro- products

International marketing of agro-products

The COA actively works to promote Taiwan agro-products around the world. In 2013, we assisted domestic agro-product groups and farmers’ associations to participate 26 times in overseas exhibitions, held promotional and marketing activities through overseas channels 40 times, and entrusted private enterprises to set up and manage three extended- term overseas Taiwan agro-products display centers.

The COA also continued its program to train personnel skilled in international marketing of agro-products. We organized two overseas study groups and held 83 hours of relevant training courses. We also conducted a project to assist 10 target agro-product exporters to establish brand names, enhance brand image, or reenginner their brands. Through such measures, we ensure that Taiwan will build and maintain its reputation for the quality and safety of its agro-products.

In 2013 exports of Taiwan agro-products totaled US$5.08 billion, about the same as in 2012. The export value of 11 products increased by at least US$1 million. The five products that showed the largest growth export value were sugar apples (growth rate of 61.2%), Taiwan tilapia (6. tea (12.4%), milkfish (17.6%), and Phalaenopsis orchids (3.7%).

Marketing of agro-products in mainland China

With policies like the opening of direct shipping and flights between Taiwan and mainland China and also the signing of the cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, mainland China has become the number one market for exports of agro-products from Taiwan. In 2013 the COA (1) assisted farmers’ and fishermen’s associations to participate in a total of 13 general or specialized trade fairs or exhibitions; (2) cooperated with mainland sales channels in organizing seven “Taiwan Fruits and Vegetables Festival” marketing events; and (3) aggressively promoted Taiwan flowers, fruit, tea, and ornamental fish, as well as the “Top 100 Products of Farmers’ and Fishermen’s Associations.” In addition, the COA commissioned the President Group to establish a long-term agro-products display and promotion specialty store, known as “Wan Xiang,” in Shanghai, to assist Taiwan agro-products exporters to build long-term sales channels in the mainland.

In 2013, the value of exports to mainland China was US$920 million, an increase of 16.4% over 2012. Whereas in 2008 Taiwan was running a trade deficit in agro-products with mainland China of US$280 million, by 2013 this had become a trade surplus of US$17.08 million. The top five fresh agro-products in terms of growth in export value to mainland China were sugar apples (248.8%), tea (26.6%), milkfish (72.4%), wax apples (199.2%), and pineapples (44.1%).

Grouper exports

In April of 2013 it was announced that Taiwan’s newly added live-fish transport ship would be able to sail to eight mainland China harbors, including Shanghai and four others north of Shanghai (Qingdao, Yantai, Dalian, and Tianjin). Also, the high-efficiency live-fish transport ship for aquaculture-raised grouper, incentives for which were approved in September of 2013, would be required to sail to mainland ports from Zhejiang Province northward. These measures demonstrate that the COA is pro-active about developing new markets for live grouper in central and northern mainland China.

In order to develop new markets for grouper outside of mainland China, in 2013 the COA assisted fishermen’s associations and related businesses to participate in several major international trade fairs, including: (a) FoodEx Japan in Tokyo, (b) Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America in Boston, (c) Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global in Brussels, and (d) Seafood Expo Asia in Hong Kong. Through these activities, we raised visibility for frozen grouper from Taiwan and actively promoted related processed products, moving step by step to develop a global market for aquaculture-raised grouper.

Exports of agro-technology

In order to cope with global trade liberalization and the era of the information economy, Taiwan has set policy goals of “innovating industrial competitiveness” and “internationalization of agro- industries.” To realize these goals, consideration must be given to the feasibility of utilizing our agro- technology—products, services, and the technologies themselves—in areas outside of Taiwan.

In 2013, the COA completed feasibility studies for overseas application of (a) rapid-test technology for agro-chemical residues, developed by the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) and (b) the Taihong No. 1 breed of Taiwan Yew, developed by the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute (TFRI). It has been determined that TARI’s rapid-test technology will be targeted at countries that have legislation governing biochemical testing. Initial funding has been set at NT$50 million. As for the TFRI’s Taihong No.1, the branches contain high volumes of paclitaxel and its precursor 10-DAB, which are of considerable economic value. This technology will be targeted at newly developing countries where demand for paclitaxel is growing rapidly. It is estimated that production value will reach NT$1 billion.

Sustainable global deep-sea fisheries operations

Taiwan’s deep-sea fisheries sector has been developing since the 1960s. We currently have nearly 2000 fishing vessels operating in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, with average annual production volume over the last few years in excess 800,000 metric tons and production value in excess of NT$40 billion. The three important types of deep-sea fisheries operations are: (a) long-line tuna fishing, (b) purse-seine skipjack- tuna fishing, and (c) squid jigging/Pacific saury fishing (done by the same vessels in alternate seasons). In 2013, Taiwan’s fishing sector reached a landmark when, for the first time, our Pacific saury catch (at 180,000 metric tons) surpassed that of Japan to become number one in the world.

In 2013, the Fisheries Agency of the COA sent representatives to participate in 51 international fishing conferences. Thse included annual meeting of commissions, meetings of working groups, or preparatory conferences, for: the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna, the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation, and the North Pacific Fisheries Commission. Through these meetings we stay abreast of the latest developments in the international fishing arena, and uphold our country’s rights and interests. In 2013, we were granted a catch quota of 87,554.8 metric tons for species whose catch is subject to international quotas, and followed all relevant norms in adopting adjustment measures.

Promoting international cooperation in farming and fisheries

Adapting to regional trade liberalization, promoting free trade agreements

On June 21, 2013, representative agencies from Taiwan and mainland China signed the “Trade in Services Agreement.” In the area of agriculture, Taiwan only liberalized a single type of service: “consulting associated with the animal husbandry industry.” (This does not involve services related to poultry incubation or livestock breeding.) Because Taiwan had already in 2009 begun permitting mainland investors to come to Taiwan to invest in or create firms providing such services. Thus far there have been no cases of such investment. Moreover, because there are no profit-oriented companies in Taiwan providing this service, this concession will have no negative impact in Taiwan. In fact, if mainland companies do invest in Taiwan to provide such services, this could increase job opportunities for local specialists, and also allow mainland firms to get a positive impression and understanding of Taiwan’s animal husbandry services chain and its associated specialists.

On July 10, 2013, Taiwan and New Zealand signed the ANZTEC agreement on bilateral economic cooperation, which went into effect on December 1, 2013. Under the agreement, the two parties commit themselves to full-scale support for exchanges and cooperation in the fields of (1) agricultural investment, (2) agricultural trade, and (3) sanitary and phytosanitary measures. Because New Zealand is a core member of both the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the ANZTEC agreement will help Taiwan in its efforts to participate in regional economic integration. In addition, the agreement will encourage the agriculture sector in Taiwan to adjust the production structure, raise competitiveness, and strengthen exports, which will all be essential for meeting the future challenges of joining the TPP.

On November 7, 2013, Taiwan and Singapore signed the ASTEP agreement on economic partnership. Because Singapore is a member of ASEAN, the Taiwan-Singapore agreement is very significant in terms of strengthening our economic interactions with all Southeast Asian countries. Also, because Singapore is a member of the TPP and RCEP, the agreement will help Taiwan in future participation in regional economic integration. Finally, the agreement sets another precedent for signing bilateral free trade agreements with other countries. Specifically in terms of agro-products, the agreement will help us market premium-quality Taiwan agro-products in Singapore and from there move on to make inroads into other markets in Southeast Asia, thereby benefitting exports of agro-products and farmers’ incomes.

Active participation in international organizations

The COA pro-actively participates in the activities of international organizations like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum ( APE C), the Afro- Asian R ural Development Organization (AARDO), the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), and the Asian Productivity Organization (APO). We are especially determined to win the right to host international conferences and activities here in Taiwan.

Main events hosted by the COA in Taiwan in 2013 included: (1) the APEC “Seminar on Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships to Reduce Losses in the Food Supply Chain”; (2) the APO “Asian Food and Agribusiness Conference 2013: Biotechnology and Golbal Competitiveness”; (3) the APO “Workshop on Development of Model Projects for Green Productivity”; (4) the “Asia-Pacific Symposium on Molecular Breeding,” held in cooperation with APAARI and the World Vegetable Center. Also, the COA, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries, held the APO “International Forum on Green Productivity 2013,” along with a special ceremony to mark the launching in Taipei of the APO’s “Center on Excellence in Green Productivity” (COE GP).

The COA also has continued to strengthen cooperative relations with international organizations headquartered in Taiwan. In 2013 we subsidized eight international conferences and four international training programs organized by the “Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Region” and the “International Center for Land Policy Studies and Training.” Such events enhance cooperation with other countries and other international agricultural organizations, and help Taiwan stay on track with the latest developments and issues in the international agricultural community.

International farming and fisheries cooperation

In 2013, the COA participated in six agricultural cooperation conferences with Canada and other countries, aiming to (a) promote international agricultural cooperation, (b) facilitate exchanges among agricultural industries, (c) develop marketing channels, and (d) eliminate non-tariff barriers to exports of Taiwan agro- products. Important accomplishments have included breaking through disease-inspection barriers to the export of breeding pigs to Vietnam. Also, in April of 2013 Taiwan and South Africa completed the exchange of documents for a cooperation agreement covering farming, forestry, and fisheries, thereby reactivating a cooperative bilateral relationship that had been interrupted for many years.

COA Minister Chen Bao-ji made a number of important overseas visits in 2013. In April he went to South Africa to participate in the 4th Global Feed and Food Conference. In July, in coordination with a visit by the ROC Coast Guard Administration’s long-range patrol ship the “Hsun Hu No.7,” Chen visited Kiribati and gave a gift of fruit-tree seedlings to its president, Anote Tong. In October he went to Israel, where he attended a trade fair on water technologies and also participated in the 4th Taiwan-Israel agricultural cooperation meeting. Such visits further bilateral relations, develop overseas assets for Taiwan’s food security strategy, and help create commercial opportunities for Taiwan companies.

Taiwan and the US held a bilateral meeting on fisheries cooperation on November 4, 2013. The US was represented by the State Department’s Office of Marine Conservation, while the COA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Coast Guard Administration, and other related agencies attended on behalf of Taiwan. The two sides discussed issues of mutual concern and the US promised to work closely with Taiwan in international fisheries meetings and activities.

The Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement

In order to deal with problems with fishing operations arising from the fact that Taiwan and Japan have overlapping maritime exclusive economic zones (EEZs), on April 10, 2013, the two sides—at the 17th session of fisheries negotiations—signed the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement. As per the Agreement, the two sides formed a “Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Committee” (TJFC), which met for its 1st session on May 7, 2013. The committee discussed fisheries cooperation, proper procedures for ensuring order in fishing operations, and other issues of mutual concern.

Following this, because fishermen’s groups in Okinawa expressed oppo- sition to the Agreement, in order to minimize disputes between Taiwan and Okinawa over fishing operations, non- governmental representatives of the two sides met on May 16 (in Okinawa) and again on December 5 (in Taiwan) for exchanges of views, and undertook discussions on operational rules for fishing boats in the maritime area covered by the Agreement. At the 2nd meeting of the TJFC held in Tokyo on December 26, Taiwan and Japan discussed concrete measures to reduce disputes over fishing operations, based on the conclusions reached by the non-governmental representatives at their December 5 meeting. The 3rd meeting of the TJFC was held in Taipei in late January of 2014.

Taiwan-Philippines fisheries cooperation

With Taiwan and the Philippines likewise facing problems with fishing operations resulting from overlapping EEZs, Taiwan and the Philippines held the 1st and 2nd rounds of fisheries negotiations in June and October respectively of 2013. Besides agreeing that no weapons or violence should be used in law enforcement, the two parties also agreed to other measures including creation of: (a) a notification mechanism when law enforcement acts against fishing boats from the other side; (b) a notification process for fishing boat emergencies; and (c) a process for rapid release of impounded vessels and crews.

In addition, the two sides discussed a draft of a “Taiwan-Philippines Agreement on Cooperation in Law Enforcement in Fishing Affairs,” which had been drawn up by the Taiwan side. Although the two parties did not reach a consensus on this agreement, they did stipulate that the two countries’ representative offices (the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, representing the Philippines in Taipei, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, representing Taiwan in Manila) would form a “technical working group on fisheries cooperation.” In the future, within the framework of this working group, the two parties will continue to discuss sea-area demarcation of fishing areas, management of fishing operations, conservation of resources, and other provisional arrangements for fisheries cooperation as needed.

Cross-strait agricultural exchanges

The COA has long promoted exchanges between agricultural professionals from Taiwan and mainland China. In 2013, a total of 445 groups (6,039 visits) from the mainland were invited to Taiwan for such exchanges, while 153 groups (576 visits) of mainland persons related to agro- business had their applications to visit Taiwan reviewed and approved by the COA. It should be noted, however, that even as we continue to promote exchanges, the COA has simultaneously reviewed and modified the application process and supervising mechanism, to ensure that all applications are carefully reviewed.

The COA has continued to ban imports of 830 agro-product items from mainland China. We also prevent Taiwan businesses who have invested in mainland China from selling their agro-products back into Taiwan. Moreover, we have kept “agro-products in which Taiwan has a technology- or technique-based competitive advantage” on the list of items that are banned for investment by Taiwan businesses in mainland China. However, we have, when appropriate, re- assessed liberalization of certain items based on the strategic needs of specific agro-industries Under the preconditions of (i) maintaining development of agro-industries and (ii) avoiding the outflow of superior technologies (techniques) that create competitive advantage, we are building an investment model, based on a framework of “industrial value chains,” that will benefit both Taiwan and mainland China.

Promoting agro-tourism

Expanding agro-tourism and promoting internationalization of the industry

The COA has continually worked: (a) to build a tourism- friendly environment for leisure farms, (b) to encourage the operation of leisure farms that offer attractive unique themes and characteristics; (c) to strengthen the functions and the contents of the agro-tourism websites and Apps; (d) to train hospitality professionals to staff leisure farms; (e) to promote the “Taiwan leisure farm service quality certification system”; (f) to adopt a “Muslim Friendly Restaurant” certification system; (g) to participate in travel trade fairs home and abroad and hold other promotional activities; and (h) to cooperate with tourism business operators to offer themed tours (such as a “cooking ingredients tour,” the “Sea of flowers in Xinshe,” and agro-tours in Taitung and Hualien counties). By the end of 2013, the COA had designated 75 “recreational agricultural areas,” and assisted 46 leisure farms to receive service-quality certification. In 2013, the agro-tourism industry attracted 20 million visits, of which more than 260,000 were by foreigners, an increase of 22% over 2012, with total production value of NT$10 billion.

Developing the leisure fishing and boating industry

In 2013 the COA: (a) worked with local governments and fishermen’s associations to hold 50 “fishing industry festivals” and leisure-fishing-industry promotional events, which attracted about 700,000 participants; (b) held a contest to elect the “Top Ten Classic Scenic Fishing Harbors,” and publicized the unique features of these fishing harbors as well as information needed to visit them; (c) added floating docks in three fishing harbors (Badouzi in Keelung, Wushi in Yilan, and Anping in Tainan), totaling 114 berths, to attact international yachts and sailboats and to develop coastal recreational and leisure activities centered around these fishing harbors; and (d) constructed a whale-watching and leisure website (in simplified and complex Chinese, as well as English and Japanese) to provide consumers with information about whale-watching, marine nature activities, and recreational fishing and boating.

The COA also assisted fishermen’s associations and non-governmental organizations related to the fishing industry to develop 20 high-quality souvenir and gift packages featuring special local products of various fishing communities, and also assisted fishing communities to develop unique local home-made cuisines. We have been working especially to see that traditional arts, crafts, and skills are preserved and passed down. In 2013 we guided fishermen’s associations to hold 214 activities to promote preservation and learning of traditional arts, crafts, and skills for women and young people in fishing communities, so that the leisure fishing industry can further diversify. In 2013 recreational activities related to the leisure fishing industry, fishing harbors, and marine eco- tourism attracted 8.76 million participants, with production value of NT$2.59 billion.

Promoting woodland eco-tourism

The COA operates and manages a system of national forest recreation areas (NFRAs). In 2013 the COA: (a) improved services, facilities, and scenic infrastructure at 18 NFRAs, of which the project at Zhaoping Train Station in the Alishan NFRA won a public construction golden quality award; (b) held more than 400 activities related to eco-tourism, forest experience, and marketing/ promotion in 18 NFRAs; and (c) provided 41.4 million individual eco-tourism visits, of which more than 700,000 were guided visits. We also continued to expand activities at our eight nature centers, where we had more than 120,000 participant-learners.

As part of our regular maintenance of hiking trains in national forest land, in 2013 the COA maintained and repaired 90 kilometers of trails. We also organized over 30 activities to promote concepts of “hiking for health” and “how to enjoy mountain sports while leaving no trace.”

The COA also continued working on our three major plains woodland parks—Dafu/Danong Forest Park (in Hualien County), Aogu Wetland and Forest Park (in Chiayi County), and Linhou/Silin Forest Park (in Pingtung County)—to enrich the possibilities for eco-tourism. Since opening, Dafu/ Danong Forest Park has had a cumulative total of 960,000 visits, while Aogu has had 190,000. Linhou/Silin Forest Park is scheduled to open to the public in 2014.

Leading the way in the inclusion of forest environmental education among APEC goals

In August of 2013, COA Minister Chen Bao-ji attended the 2nd APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry in Cusco (Peru), where he proposed that APEC members formally endorse cooperation to: “Promote public participation and cohere consensus on forest management through environmental education and interpretation.” The meeting agreed to incorporate this point into the final “Cusco Statement.”