1.　Expanding organic agriculture and eco-friendly farming

　　In order to expand the land area devoted to organic agriculture and eco-friendly farming, starting in 2017 the COA included eco-friendly farming under industry guidance and management, gradually bringing it into line with organic agriculture. In addition, to upgrade animal welfare, the COA has already published the definition of, and a guide to, friendly chicken egg production systems. We have guided the transformation of the industry and arranged policy-oriented special-case agricultural loans to meet the development needs of the industry.

　　In 2017, 14 organic certification bodies were accredited, and a total of 7,569 hectares of land had been certified, along with 3,186 farming households. Total organic production volume in 2017 was about 78,000 metric tons, with production value of about NT$4.32 billion. In addition, the COA has announced a registered area of 529 hectares for 13 promotion groups that have been certified, with future total production volume estimated at 5,500 metric tons and production value of about NT$210 million. Meanwhile, two producers have been certified as producing organic livestock products (covering two products) and one organic livestock processing business has been certified (covering one product).

　　In order to promote eco-friendly farming, the COA has adopted a strategy of “management mainly by promotion groups, with government oversight as a supplement.” On May 5, 2017, the COA announced the Directions for the Review of Eco-friendly Farming Promotion Groups. In addition, the COA promoted the “farmland ecology certification mechanism—the green conservation labeling program,” under which we guide farmers to use eco - friendly cultivation methods that do not utilize pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and for which we designed the “green conservation label” for consumers to be able to differentiate these products, to encourage consumers to purchase eco-friendly agriproducts. By the end of 2017, 237 households and 387 hectares of land had been approved for certification, providing more than 38 environments where protected species can find safe habitats. This label is the first ever brand in Taiwan to directly connect protected species of wildlife with the ecology of agricultural production. In 2017 this program won a National Sustainable Development Award from the Executive Yuan.

　　In terms of developing the marketing aspect of organic farming, in 2017 the COA guided a total of 132 retail outlets to set up special kiosks or sales counters for organic agriproducts, and we also organized organic farmers’ markets in 19 locations, set up e-shopping centers, and guided 112 organic farms to set up e-commerce webpages to directly sell to consumers. In addition, when participating in large-scale food exhibitions and similar activities, the COA set up organic food pavilions. We also organized 321 events to spread the word about organic agriculture, including consumer education, training of volunteers for organic farming, and education on organic foods in middle and primary schools and in communities.

　　To get even more farmers to commit to organic agriculture, the COA finalized the Organic Agriculture Promotion Act (draft). The contents of the law take into account industrial guidance, product management, reciprocal and equal recognition of organic products between Taiwan and other countries, and other matters related to trade in agriproducts. This will be helpful for strengthening the growth of organic farming domestically, and enable our country to be a leading country for organic agriculture. That draft was sent to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation on July 28, 2017.

2.　Promoting the Satoyama Initiative

　　Through resources provided by Rural Regeneration (overall community construction) and guidance of rural industries, the COA has selected areas where there are dense concentrations of organic farms, and constructed an overall environment conducive to organic cultivation. By combining natural resources and the cultural environment, we can realize the organic agriculture concept of “the three sheng in one body” (the three sheng being production [shengchan], daily life [shenghuo], and the ecology [shengtai]).

　　As of 2017, nine organizations (including the COA’s Forestry Bureau, Soil and Water Conservation Bureau, and Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station [HDRES]) had joined the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative, and the COA has formed the Taiwan Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative. In 2017 a total of 21 groups, including the COA’s HDRES and local government agencies, academic institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and green industries formed a platform for diverse stakeholders called the “Forests, Rivers, Settlements, and Oceans” ecological agriculture initiative. Its aims are to spread the power of groups to localities, and to make full use of local culture and ecological knowledge.

　　In addition, the COA’s Forestry Bureau has organized a Satoyama Initiative workshop and published the book Learning From Japan: Forests, Rivers, Settlements, and Oceans , as a guide book for putting into practice the revitalization of the natural environment envisioned in the Satoyama Initiative.