1.    Agricultural Adaptation Programme on Climate Change

　　Following on global economic development and the overconsumption of fuel energy and natural resources, global warming and climate change have been steadily getting more severe. Taiwan is of a subtropical marine climate, with high risk. There already appeared changes with regard to warming and rainfall, the rising of the sea level, changes in ocean currents and sea surface temperature, and more frequent occurrences and increased severity of extreme weather, all of which impact agricultural production and biodiversity.

　　Faced with the important issue of climate change, internationally the Paris Agreement has entered into force worldwide, and there have been pro-active actions to strengthen adaptability and reduce the fragility of the environment and ecologies. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act was passed in Taiwan, and legal norms for adaptation work on climate change have been legislated, to bring Taiwan into line with the international situation and international standards.

　　As the competent authority for agriculture, the COA continues (a) to stay abreast of and coordinate with the international situation, (b) to implement the Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan, and (c) to conduct rolling reassessments every year. Through a variety of measures we pro-actively maintain agricultural water and land resources, adjust the agricultural cultivation system, effectively revitalize farmland production, and develop stress resistant plant varieties (germplasm) using high technology. The COA integrates agricultural resources, and through monitoring and control of the agricultural, fishing, and animal husbandry markets, stabilizes the supply of and demand for food, in order to ensure food security, while maintaining biodiversity. In 2017 we implemented “direct payments on farmland” (which include special incentives for green eco-friendly farming) and the Big Granary Project, as well as relevant measures including reinforced greenhouse facilities, a crop disaster early warning system, and agricultural insurance. The COA has steadily strengthened Taiwan’s adaptability to climate change and enhanced adaptive capacity to address climate change risks to make progress in promoting sustainable agricultural development.

2.    Proactively implementing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Action Plan for Reducing Food Loss and Waste

　　In June of 2017 Taiwan hosted the “APEC Expert Consultation on Food Losses and Waste Reduction.” In addition, in coordination with “APEC Food Security Week” held in Can Tho, Vietnam in August, Taiwan co-held, with Vietnam, the “APEC Capacity Building Workshop on Food Losses and Waste
Reduction for a Sustainable APEC Food System.” We also participated in the “High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Response to Climate Change” (Ministerial Level), also in Can Tho, encouraging APEC members to strengthen the sharing of experiences and to establish cooperation models between the public and private sectors and between economic entities.

　　Recognition of the results of the APEC multi-year project promoted by Taiwan on “Strengthening Public-Private Partnership to Reduce Food Losses in the Supply Chain” has been included in the “Can Tho Statement” and the statement by the 2017 APEC Ministerial-Level Meeting, affirming that plan’s
importance and contributions to regional food security.

3.     Promoting reinforced facilities agriculture

　　In responding to climate change, increased use of technology in agriculture, and globalization, one agricultural operational strategy is to use agricultural facilities to cultivate crops. In order to upgrade the disaster-resistance capabilities of facilities, the COA has guided farmers to build structurally reinforced greenhouses (including net greenhouses), in order to stabilize the supply of fruits and vegetables, raise farmers’ incomes, and promote upgrading of value-added in agriculture.

　　The COA has launched a plan to promote facilities agriculture running
from 2017 to 2022. The target is for the COA to guide farmers in constructing 2,000 hectares of structurally reinforced greenhouses, and based on the Subsidy Standard of COA-Authorized Program, the COA can subsidize 50-60% of costs. Maximum subsidies range from NT$1 million to NT$7.8 million per hectare depending upon the type of structures built. We also (a) provide consultation services from a facilities technical team; (b) offer standard (reference) plans for nine types of agricultural facilities from which farmers can choose; (c) work with the Ministry of Labor to urge trans-regional outside companies or existing operators to expand their construction capabilities, and (d) assist in applying for policy-oriented special-case loans to reduce the burden of investment costs.

　　In 2017, the COA guided construction of reinforced greenhouse facilities on 183 hectares, which was helpful in stabilizing the supply of fruits and vegetables in the summer. Moreover, we combined the facilities agriculture program with organic or traceability certifications, driving eco-friendly farming and maintaining rural environmental safety and competitiveness.

　　In the future, the COA will continue to promote the advancement of relevant work, including the following: The COA will analyze the economic efficiency of facilities cultivation, build simple and easily understandable facilities crop models, and increase farmers’ confidence to commit themselves to facilities operations. Also, each agricultural research and extension station will set up a demonstration zone, and construct an incubation center to undertake systematic training and guidance, as well as develop facilities production for crops with special local characteristics. Moreover, the COA is guiding the establishment of regional group production zones, such as the Central Taiwan Agricultural High-Technology Park in Changhua County and the Circular Agriculture Zone in Chiayi County. Finally, we will guide agribusinesses to get involved in facilities agriculture and introduce smart equipment to link
together small farmers to form smart agriculture alliances and upgrade production efficiency.

4.    Creating new technology for facilities agriculture

　　The COA is implementing the project for “upgrading of facilities agriculture and increasing value-added for industries.” We have already completed wind-resistant reinforced greenhouse facilities as well as technologies for making them water-saving and energy-saving and for environmental control of these facilities. These technologies include, for example, (i) greenhouse environmental control systems, (ii) handling systems for irrigation and collection of rainwater for circular use, (iii) environmental controls as well as standard operating procedures (SOPs) for cultivation techniques in plant factories, and (iv) sensor equipment. We have also developed real-time monitoring systems and prevention technologies for diseases and insect pests, established SOPs for mitigating harm from diseases or insect pests in facilities, established models for safe use of agrichemicals, and established management models and safe production systems for flowers, vegetables, and fruit trees. In addition, under the project for “research, development, and application of technologies for leading industries in the agricultural facilities industry” (part of Smart Agriculture 4.0), we have already constructed automatic fertigation systems for use inside facilities, which use smart sensor technology and are able to automatically and immediately issue alerts about irregularities and maintenance. The COA has also developed a climate measurement module and high-reliability new-type hygrometers. In addition, with respect to damage by insect pests against important crops for facilities agriculture, the COA has built the framework for a query system for harmful pests, and continually introduced artificial intelligence machine-learning technology, achieving effectiveness in reduction of damage from insect pests.

5.    Promoting the “Big Granary Project”

　　The main mixed staple crops (MSCs) in Taiwan include peanuts, sweet potatoes, corn for human consumption, red beans (adzuki beans), flint corn, soybeans, and Chinese pearl barley. In 2017 the area planted with mixed staple crops 81,346 hectares, with production value of NT$12.6 billion, production volume of about 490,000 metric tons, and nearly 30,000 farm households involved in their cultivation. Production areas are concentrated in Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung. 

　　Looking at recent years, the volume of imported MSCs has been about eight million metric tons (MT). This includes four million MT of corn, 2.4 million MT of soybeans, and 1.6 million MT of wheat. Domestic production totals about 6% of imports. In order to adjust the rice production structure and promote the policy of revitalization of fallow land, through the “Big Granary Project: A Program for Promoting the Development of Mixed Staple Crop Industries,” the COA aims to raise the nation’s self-sufficiency rate for MSCs, and we plan to
promote the conversion of rice-growing land over to MSCs like sweet potatoes, soybeans, sesame, buckwheat, corn for human consumption, and peanuts, in (i) areas in northern Taiwan which have low production of rice
during the second crop season, (ii) a “rattoon rice zone” along the coast in central Taiwan, (iii) areas along the high-speed rail line and in land affected by subsidence in Changhua, Yunlin, and Chiayi counties, and (iv) doublecrop-
season rice growing areas in southern Taiwan. 

　　Through the Big Granary Project, the COA is promoting guidance measures including a system for converting land over to MSCs, which will integrate collective production zones, put production and sales of MSCs on a contract basis, introduce agribusiness management, and connect with processing industries, in hopes of reconstructing the broken chain of MSC industries. In 2017 the area cultivated with domestic MSCs had already increased by 6,564
hectares over 2015, and we completed (i) the construction of a support system for converting land over to MSCs, (ii) establishment of collective production zones for MSCs in 34 places, and (iii) establishment of post-harvest handling centers in eight locations. The COA also newly announced Taiwan Good Agricultural Practice certification methods for MSCs including wheat, buckwheat, red quinoa, mung beans, and millet. We also guided six MSC processing plants to get Traceable Agricultural Product (TAP) certification, developed diverse TAP processed products and MSC baked goods, expanded marketing activities, and did matchmaking with end user sales channels, thereby upgrading the sales volume of domestic MSCs and also increasing farmers’ incomes. 

　　Various district agricultural research and extension stations have held lectures on cultivation techniques for, and safe use of agrichemicals on, flint corn, soybeans, Chinese pearl barley, wheat, sweet potatoes, buckwheat, and peanuts. (These have been held in locations that include Erlin, Dacheng, Lugang, and Shengang townships in Changhua County; Da’an, Dadu, Waipu, and Waiqi townships in Taichung City, and Xihu, Houlong, Dahu, Yuanli, and Zhunan townships in Miaoli County.) There has also been one in-the-fields demonstration session for cultivation of Chinese pearl barley (in Longjing Township). Finally, the COA has increased the land area growing MSCs on a contract basis in the central Taiwan region to over 200 hectares. In addition, the area of land nationwide used for cultivating various new MSC strains developed at the Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (including Taichung S. No. 2 wheat, Taichung No. 3 and No. 4 Chinese pearl barley, and Taichung No. 2 and No. 5 buckwheat) has surpassed 660 hectares.

6.    Adoption of “Four Labels and One QR Code” agriproducts for school lunches

　　To ensure food safety, the Executive Yuan has proposed the concrete policy of the “Five Links of Food Safety.” This policy encourages schools to utilize domestically produced traceable ingredients in their nutritious school lunches. It was launched on a trial basis in six counties and cities in the second semester of the 2016 academic year. During the first semester of the 2017 academic year it was expanded to every city and county on Taiwan proper as well as to Penghu County, and the percentage of registered food ingredients falling under the “Four Labels and One QR Code” (the four labels being organic, Traceable Agricultural Products, Certified Agricultural Standards, and Gi-Am-Pu, while the QR Code refers to products with a QR Code) reached 47%. Promotional policies were as follows:

(A) The COA assisted the Ministry of Education (MOE) to incorporate domestically produced agriproducts with a traceability label into the MOE’s amended “Contract Template for School Lunch Boxes (Buckets) Procurement.”

(B) The COA researched and drafted an “incentive plan for schools choosing domestically-produced traceable fresh ingredients for use in school lunches.” Each county and city government must propose its own “incentives implementation program” to the Ministry of Education.

(C) Through the Agricultural Productivity 4.0 data compilation platform, the COA provided interface with the Ministry of Education’s Campus Food Ingredients Registration Platform and other relevant food cloud systems.

(D) In terms of fisheries products, the COA guided the National Fishermen’s Association and the Ziguan District Fishermen’s Association to establish traceable seafood supply platforms, with more than 40 items covered, including Taiwan tilapia slices, dolphinfish slices, and sailfish slices. In addition, we organized seafood and fisheries education for schools, enabling all students to eat premium safe domestically-produced fresh seafood. The COA also constructed a supply chain for domestically-produced fresh pork used in school lunches, and also encouraged group-meal businesses to use domestically-produced, cleaned and graded eggs that conform to a traceability system.

(E) The COA also did overall planning for a special project within the Executive Yuan, under which the COA, jointly with local governments, inspected kitchens belonging to primary and junior high schools and 498 group-meal businesses. The inspection rate reached 19.4% of all kitchens belonging to schools nationwide and 48.8% of group-meal businesses that supply lunches to schools. We also conducted sample tests on 4,102 items of fresh agricultural, fisheries, and animal husbandry products from school lunches. Of these 3,280 agriproducts were tested for pesticide residues, with 3,119 (95.1%) up to standard. Also, 822 animal husbandry products were sample tested for residual veterinary drugs, with 821 (99.9%) up to standard. Producers who were untraceable, besides being given demerits by schools for violations based on the purchasing contract, were also investigated and handled according to law by the nation’s health authorities, to ensure the safety of the ingredients in school lunches.

7.     Strengthening food and agricultural education and extension

　　The COA held a contest for food and agricultural education (FAE) plans at primary schools, with 11 plans winning prizes. After teaching demonstrations, reassessment, and feedback, FAE was blended into the learning areas and competence indicators for the existing curriculum. In addition, we organized nine multi-faceted FAE workshops; two activities for exchanges with international FAE experts from Britain, the US and Japan, and two seminars for drawing up the FAE Act (draft).

　　The COA also encouraged agricultural groups and relevant organizations to provide FAE services. In 2017, there were 432 agricultural, fisheries, and animal husbandry FAE experiential activities, with a total of 21,565 participants. There were also 260 events for organic FAE, agricultural experiential courses, and teacher training, with 18,000 teachers and students participating. In addition, the COA guided 186 township level farmers’ associations to strengthen FAE and education in healthy diets.

　　The COA also set up sales platforms, including direct sales points for farmers, farmers’ markets, and community shops for farmers, in 64 locations. These allow farmers and consumers to meet face-to-face, to extend information to, and to educate, consumers, and to increase consumers’ recognition of domestic agricultural products and local dietary culture.

8.     Promoting agricultural production clusters

　　In response to international trade liberalization and in accordance with adjustment of the agricultural production structure, in 2017 the COA guided the organization of production clusters for various agricultural crops. These included rice (65 locations covering 24,627 hectares), vegetables for export (11 locations covering 8,900 hectares), flowers (16 locations covering 540 hectares), premium fruits (54 locations covering 1,653.8 hectares), tea (23 locations covering 367 hectares), mixed staple crops (47 locations covering 2,549 hectares), and organic products (25 locations covering 1,030 hectares). Moreover, we continued to introduce production management models including cooperative operations between farmers and businesses, contract production and contract marketing, common prevention of pesticide use, and autonomous quality control, in order to strengthen the production and-marketing system supply chain.

　　As of the end of 2017, the Taiwan Orchid Plantation (TOP) had given approval to 80 firms to move into the TOP and set up operations, with 75 already having begun operations, total investment of about NT$14 billion, and operating revenue of about NT$12.6 billion. The TOP has also driven the creation of 1,000 jobs each year. Moreover, since 2005 the TOP has been organizing the Taiwan International Orchid Show (TIOS), and it has become one of the world’s “big three” orchid shows (along with the World Orchid Show and the Japan Grand Prix International Orchid Show in Tokyo). Every year the TIOS attracts numerous people from around the world to visit and place purchasing orders.

9.    Promoting agricultural enterprise zones

　　To facilitate agricultural operations that are more centralized and have greater economies of scale, the COA has invested policy resources in high-quality, safe production zones, in order to maintain a large area of high-quality farmland. In 2017 we mapped out and constructed agricultural enterprise zones (AEZs) in 20 locations (including Sanxing, Xinshe, Dounan, Xingang, and Meinong), covering 5,263 hectares. We have built an AEZ cultivation system, bringing together environmentally-friendly production, development of the AEZ’s core industries, and contract production and contract marketing. The COA also trained over 200 young farmers and guided approval for Traceable Agricultural Product and organic certifications for 450 hectares. At the same time we have constructed the AEZs as platforms for integrating human, land, water, and industrial resources, to facilitate the priority commitment of policy resources to outstanding agricultural production areas.