County Magistrate Chang Li-shan promotes Yunlin’s sustainable agriculture at NTU ESG innovation forum

(中央社訊息服務20251106 18:56:51)Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan (張麗善) was invited to participate in the “National Taiwan University Multi-Health ESG Innovation Practice and Technology Application Forum” on April 18. Her speech, titled “Government ESG, Low Carbon, Negative Carbon—Smart Technology Innovation in Agriculture,” elaborated on how Yunlin County, a major agricultural county in Taiwan, is driving agricultural value creation and industrial transformation through smart technology innovation, addressing the challenges of climate change, and achieving concrete results in sustainable agriculture. She also highlighted the achievements of cultivating outstanding talent through industry-government-academia collaboration, which received enthusiastic applause and responses from the audience.

National Taiwan University (NTU) held the forum on innovative practices and technological applications in diverse health at the Si-Liang International Conference Hall. The forum invited academic experts, industry, and government representatives from various fields to give presentations and discuss topics such as government ESG, industry ESG, climate change, food issues, livestock waste, and human and biological health improvement, aiming to promote innovative practices and technological applications in diverse health ESG.

County Magistrate Chang noted that Yunlin is Taiwan’s most important agricultural county, with an annual agricultural output value of NT$43 billion and livestock production of NT$44.2 billion, both leading the nation. Fisheries also generate NT$6.4 billion. Faced with the dual challenges of climate change and an aging agricultural population, the county government is proactively addressing these challenges, leveraging data and technology to create new value for farmers and striving to realize a new blueprint for smart, low-carbon, and circular agriculture.

Chang stated that county government departments and agencies collaborate across sectors, leveraging resources from industry, government, academia, and research to promote sustainable agricultural policies centered on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations. This, combined with smart technology innovation, has demonstrated Yunlin’s solid “food power.” In 2024, Yunlin was recognized as one of the top seven smart cities globally by the ICF, and in 2023, it won a total of 155 national and international awards, demonstrating outstanding achievements in local governance and industrial transformation.

Chang further pointed out that to enhance the resilience of agricultural operations, the county government established the “Yunlin Digital Agriculture Mobile Platform,” integrating 30 years of meteorological big data with recent national market conditions, and launched the “Agricultural Price Trend Observer” to help farmers grasp real-time market trends and accurately coordinate production and marketing decisions.

The county government also signed an MOU with the Central Weather Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to strengthen the application of meteorological information and establish a “Smart Agricultural University” to enhance farmers’ digital skills and connect agricultural production with future technologies.

In her speech, Chang Li-shan noted that the county government’s full support for local agricultural enterprises has yielded remarkable results. Yunlin secured three winners of the 2024 Shennong Awards: Tsai Ying-di of Formosagoose Co., Ltd; Uncle Su Chia-yi of Sweet Co., Ltd; and organic bamboo shoot producer Li Hsing-chen. Su Chia-yi promoted the Sixth-Industrialization of the sweet potato industry, establishing cold chain processing and production and marketing certifications, resulting in an 837.5% increase in export orders. Li Hsing-chen became the only operator in Taiwan to achieve dual certification for organic bamboo shoot processing and production, successfully exporting its products to the United States, Canada, and other countries.

In the 2024 “Hometown Entrepreneurship” competition, Yunlin County once again achieved great results. EZaquaculture Company won the Hometown Gold Award for its “Unmanned Farming Boat,” increasing feeding efficiency fivefold and showcasing the amazing potential of technology-based entrepreneurship. Shining Sprouts and Farm Around You won the Digital Innovation Award and Field Practice Award, respectively, reflecting the vibrant vitality of agricultural innovation and entrepreneurship.

County Magistrate Chang emphasized that the county government is implementing its vision of environmental sustainability through action, promoting circular agriculture and a zero-waste policy. Agricultural waste is recycled into “Yunnan irrigation fertilizer,” and livestock waste is used to generate biogas power, generating 12,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity daily, making it the largest biogas recycling facility in Taiwan. Fishery waste is also converted into “seawool” for use in uniforms and suits, creating new value for waste.

The county government is actively developing the agricultural product brand “Yunlin Goods”, which currently boasts 942 certified products and 392 operators. The brand has not only collaborated with the Golden Horse Awards annually but has also made the leap to international recognition, exhibiting at food expos in Tokyo and Singapore, raising the profile of Yunlin’s agricultural products. As Taiwan’s largest peanut producer, Yunlin Goods has also partnered with Uni-President Convenience Stores to expand distribution channels and enhance its brand influence.

In terms of cultivating a new generation of talent for future agricultural development, the county government is collaborating with National Taiwan University to promote animal and plant disease control and greenhouse gas assessment programs, offering animal medical assistant courses and on-site clinic instruction. The government is also working with universities and colleges including National Taiwan Ocean University, Nanhua University, National Chung Hsing University, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, and Huwei University of Science and Technology to strengthen agricultural expertise and sustainable management capabilities, cultivating a new generation of talent for future agricultural development.

Dean Lin Yu-pin of the College of Biological Resources and Agriculture at National Taiwan University stated that under the governance of County Magistrate Chang, Yunlin County has achieved remarkable results in all areas, which is evident to all. Yunlin County’s agricultural output is valued at NT$93.6 billion annually. The rich and diverse products have fostered numerous agricultural product processing and food factories, including many champion enterprises, creating a virtuous cycle of production and marketing, fostering sustainable agricultural development.