Yunlin County presents results of agricultural climate adaptation plan in response to climate change

(中央社訊息服務20251112 16:44:07)Climate change has led to heat waves, droughts, and extreme rainfall, posing unprecedented challenges to the stability of agricultural production in Taiwan. The Yunlin County Government and National Taiwan University (NTU) jointly held the "Yunlin County Agricultural Climate Change Adaptation Demonstration Site Results Presentation" on Nov. 11 at the Agricultural Promotion and Education Center of the NTU Yunlin Branch. The event explored the direction of agricultural adaptation and transformation under climate change by combining interdisciplinary research results and local experience.

Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan (張麗善) stated that the county is the most important agricultural region in Taiwan, with a total agricultural output value of NT$94.8 billion in 2024, ranking first in the country. Among them, agriculture accounted for NT$46 billion, livestock for NT$44.7 billion, and fisheries for NT$4.1 billion, all ranking among the top in the country. Yunlin has long played a vital role in ensuring a stable food supply and shoulders the responsibility of national food security. However, the extreme climate challenges brought about by climate change are becoming increasingly severe. In the past decade, agricultural losses caused by climate anomalies have averaged tens of billions of New Taiwan dollars annually, posing a significant impact on food security and sustainable industrial development.

Chang pointed out that the conference showcased the significant achievements of the "Yunlin County Agricultural Department's Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan." Developed by Professor Tung Ching-pin (童慶斌) and his research team from the Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering at NTU, the plan integrates technologies such as meteorological data application, DSSAT crop models, water resource management, and climate decision-making platforms. It also incorporates the application results from the Shin Hu Cooperation Farm demonstration site, promoting the transformation of scientific information into actionable management decisions for farmers, thereby reducing the risks posed by extreme climates. She also expressed her hope to cultivate more young people in the professional field to better address future climate change challenges and further expand and replicate successful cases.

In addition, the Yunlin County Government has also helped the farmers receive real-time information on crop planting status and market prices through the "Yunlin County Digital Agriculture Mobile Platform" and the "Yunlin Agricultural Information" LINE service, thereby improving their control over agricultural products, reducing losses from market price fluctuations and the risk of disasters caused by unpredictable weather factors, and enabling the sustainable development of agriculture.

Wei Sheng-de (魏勝德), Director of the Agriculture Department, Yunlin County Government, stated that traditional agriculture relies heavily on weather and experience. The county government hopes to combine agricultural experience with new technologies through methods such as local microclimate stations and data collection. By using big data analysis, agricultural management, pest and disease control, and harvest timing can be made more precise, thus strengthening agricultural resilience. This event invited experts and scholars in the fields of climate and agriculture to share their experiences and research findings, including Dr. Yao Ming-hui (姚銘輝) of the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture, Chief Pan Qi (潘琦) of the Sea Climate Division of the Central Weather Bureau, and Professors Hsu Shao-yiu (許少瑜) and Liu Li-yu (劉力瑜) of NTU. These experts presented their findings on topics such as microclimate adaptation, water resource utilization, and crop model application, proposing specific and feasible adaptation strategies from meteorological observation and data analysis to field management. Professor Tung Ching-pin of the Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering at NTU also pointed out that by taking advantage of this opportunity to present and exchange research findings, the Yunlin County Agricultural Climate Change Adaptation Demonstration Site Project can serve as a model for other counties and cities. Through this systematic approach, they can develop specific structural and non-structural solutions to address climate change.

The Yunlin County Agriculture Department pointed out that a poster exhibition area was also set up on-site, showcasing the agricultural climate risk assessment process, crop pattern decision-making applications, water resource optimization management, and the practical results of demonstration farms. Kuan Chih-wei (管志偉), Vice General Manager of EasyMap Digital Technology Ltd., also gave a demonstration of the "Adaptation Measures Information Platform." Shin Hu Cooperation Farm also shared its practical experience in implementing smart agriculture technologies and adaptation measures. Professor Tung Ching-pin summarized the project results, explaining how to translate scientific research into local action and build cross-departmental consensus to promote a more resilient and sustainable future for Yunlin agriculture.

Chang emphasized that the results presentation not only showcased Yunlin County's practical achievements in climate adaptation policies, but also promoted climate data sharing and decision-making applications through the joint participation of industry, government, academia, and research institutions, creating new thinking and cooperation opportunities for Taiwan's agriculture to face the challenges of climate change.