2025 Yunlin International Agricultural Machinery and Materials Exhibition to take place from Oct. 25 to 27

(中央社訊息服務20251023 16:33:48)Yunlin County boasts a strong agricultural foundation and is one of Taiwan’s most iconic agricultural hubs. Facing the challenges of climate change and sustainability, Yunlin is steadily transforming its agriculture toward low-carbon and intelligent development. The Yunlin International Agricultural Machinery and Materials Exhibition, now in its 19th year, has become Taiwan’s oldest and largest professional agricultural exhibition, attracting enthusiastic participation from top manufacturers both domestically and internationally. This year’s exhibition, held over three consecutive days from Oct. 25 in the High-Speed Rail Yunlin Station Specific Area, reached a new high in scale. The exhibition covered diverse topics such as low-carbon traction machines, carbon-sinking agricultural machinery, smart monitoring screen houses, electric agricultural machinery, green energy applications, and construction machinery, showcasing comprehensive agricultural solutions from production to environmental sustainability.

County Magistrate Chang Li-shan (張麗善) pointed out that in the face of intensified extreme climate change, an aging agricultural workforce, and labor shortages, agriculture must continuously upgrade through technological and intelligent approaches to remain competitive in the face of extreme climate change. The Yunlin County Government has long promoted the dual-pivot policies of “smart agriculture” and “sustainable net zero,” integrating the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture and the industrial sector to promote smart agricultural development and move towards environmental sustainability.

Magistrate Chang stated that the future of agriculture lies in technology, and its hope lies in young farmers. To realize the vision of sustainable agriculture, the county government is actively promoting smart agriculture policies, introducing technologies such as electric agricultural machinery, mechanized planting and harvesting systems, smart greenhouse management, drones, and smart irrigation. These technologies not only effectively improve production efficiency and reduce labor burdens, but also enable digital management to address extreme climate challenges. The government is committed to attracting young people to return to their hometown to engage in agriculture, becoming a new generation of technology-savvy farmers and creating new agricultural value for Yunlin.

Magistrate Chang emphasized that Yunlin is not only Taiwan’s granary but also a practice base for smart agriculture. Yunlin County holds a grand annual Agricultural Machinery and Materials Exhibition, which explores the boundless possibilities of future agriculture, sparks industry inspiration, and provides a platform for public exchange. Increased trade volume also attracts more veteran farmers from across the country to witness agricultural development, contributing to a better history for the future of agriculture.

Chen Chi-rung (陳啟榮), Deputy Director of the Agriculture and Food Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, said that the Yunlin International Agricultural Machinery and Materials Exhibition is a very important exhibition in Taiwan. Taiwanese farmers have very powerful farming techniques, but the country’s agriculture is now generally facing a labor shortage problem. For this reason, the Ministry of Agriculture has specially promoted the medium-term plan for agricultural machinery. Since the vigorous promotion of agricultural machinery in 2017, the annual agricultural machinery supplement has been increasing. In the past, the annual funding was only about NT$30 million, but now NT$120 million is invested in subsidies every year. From 2017 to 2024, a total of more than NT$7 billion has been invested, subsidizing farmers to purchase more than 220,000 agricultural machines, benefiting more than 200,000 farmers. Only by replacing manpower with mechanization can the problem of labor shortage in agriculture be effectively solved.

The Agriculture and Food Agency has been promoting the intelligentization and electrification of agricultural machinery in recent years, achieving significant results. Currently, 30% of agricultural machinery is electric. This year’s Yunlin International Agricultural Machinery and Materials Exhibition featured the introduction of bio-based and safe materials, aligning with the current emphasis on net-zero sustainability and promoting the widespread use of sustainable materials by farmers. For example, biodegradable weed control mats have been introduced in recent years to help farmers reduce weeding labor. After decomposing, these mats also serve as fertilizer, enhancing soil fertility.

Lin Yu-kuo (林裕國), Chairman of the Taiwan Agricultural Machinery and Materials Association, stated that manufacturers must leverage their intelligence to develop unprecedented smart agricultural machinery and expand its capabilities. To help farmers save labor, even eliminate manual labor, and achieve sustainable agricultural operations, the association is collaborating partners across industry, government, academia, and research sectors. The association hopes to not only assist farmers in their farming operations but also ensure they produce high-quality crops. The association also aims to provide practical guidance and support for localized production, enabling farmers, young or senior, to achieve AI-enabled agricultural advancements.

Tsai Chih-jung (蔡致榮), Chairman of the Taiwan Agricultural Structures Association, also stated that through precise measurement and management, and by leveraging facilities to strengthen agricultural capabilities, it can preserve crops, resist disasters, and combat climate change. This exhibition consists of three parts. First of all, it focuses on disaster prevention facilities and smart technology. Four manufacturers have been invited to build various greenhouses, allowing farmers to experience the entire cultivation model and showcasing AIoT environmental control and the precise control of smart agriculture. Second, it highlights precise and efficient materials, including corrosion-resistant steel and multifunctional plastic sheeting. Third, precise nutrient management and inputs are showcased. Through accurate calculations, precise soil application, such as alternative media and granular fertilizers, as well as basic multifunctional biopharmaceuticals, are also displayed in this area. Farmers are welcome to visit the various exhibition areas to exchange ideas and learn more about the tools they can use, which we believe will be of great help in agricultural production.

Chang Chen-yi (張振益), Chairman of the Taiwan Construction Machine Association, pointed out that the use of construction machinery in agricultural work and its integration with agriculture can achieve several times the result with half the effort, and invited everyone to visit the 2025 Yunlin International Agricultural Machinery and Materials Exhibition.

Wei Sheng-de (魏勝德), Director of the Yunlin County Government’s Department of Agriculture, noted that the Yunlin International Agricultural Machinery and Materials Exhibition has been a focal point for the industry every year since its inception. In 2024, the show attracted over 660,000 visitors and generated over NT$700 million in trade. This year’s event reached a new high, demonstrating Yunlin’s commitment and achievements in promoting sustainable agriculture. Additionally, free shuttle buses will be available between Yunlin High Speed ​​Rail Station and the exhibition venue for convenient access.

At the press conference prior to the 2025 Yunlin International Agricultural Machinery and Materials Exhibition, County Magistrate Chang Li-shan, Deputy Director Chen Chi-rung of the Agriculture and Food Agency, Director Wei Sheng-de of the County Agriculture Department, Director of the Public Information Department Chen Chi-yu (陳其育), County Councilor Huang Mei-yao (黃美瑤), Huwei Township Mayor Lin Chia-hong (林嘉弘), Chairman Lin Yu-kuo of the Taiwan Agricultural Machinery and Materials Association, Taiwan Agricultural Structures Association Chairman Tsai Chih-jung, Taiwan Construction Machine Association Chairman Chang Chen-yi, and others sincerely invite farmers, citizens, and international industry professionals nationwide to join in the event, witness the forward-looking development of Taiwan’s smart agriculture, and work together to propel Taiwan’s agriculture into a new era of sustainability, low carbon, and internationalization.