2025.05.21
TAISE's Inaugural Taiwan Agriculture Sustainability Awards Wrap Up Successfully
▲The Forum Draws 401 Attendees Online and In-Person
Industry, Government, and Academia Unite
to Pioneer Sustainable Farming in Taiwan
With climate change, food security, and biodiversity loss posing urgent global threats, sustainable agriculture is in the spotlight. On December 21, 2025, the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy Research Foundation (TAISE) hosted the "2025 Taiwan Agriculture Sustainability Forum" at National Taiwan University Hospital's International Conference Center. The event launched the inaugural "Taiwan Agriculture Sustainability Awards," attracting 401 participants both online and in-person. Leaders from industry, government, and academia gathered to chart agriculture's future and celebrate frontline innovators fueling Taiwan's green transition.
▲TAISE Chairman Eugene Chien delivers opening remarks, stressing Taiwan's 32% food self-sufficiency rate amid climate and trade pressures. ESG strategies are essential to strengthen the sector” Sustainable agriculture means sustainable Taiwan." Council of Agriculture Director General of Resource Sustainability Division, Lao-da Chuang, positioned net-zero as a tool toward the greater goal of agricultural sustainability. Agriculture offers vast natural solutions pivotal to Taiwan's 2050 net-zero path, he said, advocating robust carbon accounting, green tech, and governance.
Food Security Takes Center Stage
Chairman Eugene Chien highlighted Taiwan's low 32% food self-sufficiency, compounded by climate risks and global competition. He called for ESG-driven reforms and urged collective action on food security and local farming revival.
▲Council of Agriculture Director General Lao-da Chuang: Net-zero is the means; sustainable agriculture, the end.。
Awards Spotlight Excellence: 17 Organizations, 27 Projects Honored
Drawing 27 applicants from farmers' associations, companies, research bodies, and universities, the awards recognized 17 organizations and 27 standout projects or individuals across eight categories: sustainable production, tech innovation, resource cycling, education, traceability, net-zero, partnerships, and distinguished figures.
Hualien County's Fuli Township Farmers' Association led with four wins, including "Agriculture ESG Comprehensive Performance Model" and "Sustainable Production Gold Award," for contract farming, resource loops, and agritourism. PX Mart secured three golds for promoting specialty rice, frog-friendly bamboo shoots, low-carbon fish farming, and smart tech.
Individual Honorees. "Sustainable Agriculture Distinguished Individual" awards went to Fos Shuh Industry Chairman Yao-kun Hung, Wufeng District Farmers' Association Chief Secretary Ching-chien Huang, and Taoqing Ag Cooperative Chief Instructor Cheng-fu Wu, for innovation, upgrades, and youth engagement.
Keynotes Chart the Path Forward
Lao-da Chuang keynoted on "Agricultural Net-Zero Strategies and Policy," covering carbon sinks, resilience, and governance. Academia Sinica Distinguished Research Fellow Ming-Che Shih explored the global "4/1000 Initiative," regenerative farming, and carbon cropping, pushing research-policy synergy.
▲Academician Ming-Che Shih shared global trends in the "4/1000 Initiative," regenerative agriculture, and carbon farming systems, advocating a dual-track approach of scientific research and institutional innovation.
Practitioner panels featured Fuli Farmers' Association Secretary Hui-huang Lin on contract farming-tourism fusion; PX Mart's Hong-zheng Liu on "Five Ag Dreams" for ecosystem balance; and Hualien Ag Improvement Station Director Da-ji Yang on drones and biocontrol.
▲ Fuli Farmers' Association Secretary Hui-huang Lin.
▲ PX Mart Assistant Manager Hong-zheng Liu.
▲ Hualien Ag Improvement Station Director Da-ji Yang.
Toward an Asian Model for Ag Transformation
TAISE emphasized agriculture's pivotal role in achieving multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through awards, policy advocacy, and knowledge exchange, TAISE aims to build resilient, system-integrated agricultural ecosystems. The "2026 Taiwan Agriculture Sustainability Awards" will open for applications in October, with the September "Asia-Pacific Sustainability Expo" featuring a dedicated agriculture zone—inviting all to join in pioneering Taiwan's sustainable agriculture future.
▲ TAISE Chairman Chien (2nd right) and Director General Lao-da Chuang (center) present awards—Group 1.
▲ Eugene Chien (5th right) and Lao-da Chuang (5th left)—Group 2.
▲ Eugene Chien (4th right) and Lao-da Chuang (center)—Group 3.