Department of Agricultural Technology, Background
During 2018–2019, under Goal 4 of the Higher Education Sprout Project, the team of this center implemented the University Social Responsibility (USR) practice project titled “Smart Agricultural Friendly Environment Innovative Agriculture Project.” The project invested the university’s research and teaching capabilities into the overall development of smart agriculture, building upon the results of the Ministry of Education’s University Learning Ecosystem Innovation Project implemented during 2016–2018 which promoted the “Smart Agriculture Mentorship Social Innovation Project.” Originally planned as an application to establish the “Bachelor Program in Agricultural Management,” after several adjustments it was changed to the preparation and establishment of a new “Department of Agricultural Technology.” Approval was granted by the Ministry of Education in June 2018, with student recruitment beginning in the 2019 academic year. In alignment with the Ministry of Education’s industry–academia cooperative class policy, the program collaborates with three local agricultural vocational schools in Huwei, Peikang, and Hsiluo. It links agricultural industries with faculty from the College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Management, and College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science to integrate interdisciplinary teaching resources and cultivate new agricultural talents.
National Formosa University is located in an agricultural production region. This center focuses on agricultural education in Yunlin, biological resource recycling, and the safety and quality of agricultural products. Beginning from regional integration and aligning with the university’s Higher Education Sprout development direction, the integration of industry, government, and academia serves as the driving force for agricultural human resource development. This creates diffusion effects, promotes departmental integration, and builds competitive localized agricultural advantages. From 2017 to 2019 the center also collaborated with faculty of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to implement the USR project “Creating a Better Environment for the Four Dimensions of Life in the Huwei River Basin.” Within the four axes of production, life, ecology, and vitality, the project focuses on production by reshaping rural culture and promoting rural living circles. Through agricultural general education courses and agricultural module courses extended into the community, the program connects with community needs, cultivates agricultural talent, and fulfills the university’s local social responsibility.
This center has implemented numerous projects commissioned by the Ministry of Education and local governments to strengthen local agricultural services and industry–academia cooperation in agricultural technology. By leveraging the agricultural master teams trained through the Farmers University operated by the university and regional agricultural education sites, the center organizes consensus meetings and industry–academia forums to connect agricultural enterprises, universities, and public institutions as partners and advisory teams. With the experience and expertise of many farmers and institutions in Yunlin, services such as technology, marketing, and management consulting are provided. These efforts inject teaching capacity and industrial guidance to drive the transformation and upgrading of local agriculture in Yunlin while fostering innovative management models. The center serves as a platform integrating communities, students, farmers, and enterprises, and aims to establish Yunlin County as the best agricultural learning environment in Taiwan.
To create new vitality in Taiwan’s agriculture, it is necessary to improve agricultural labor resources and establish an appropriate talent cultivation system. Associate Professor Shou Ku Tai of the Department of Biotechnology has long been dedicated to promoting agriculture-related initiatives including the following:
(1) Operation of Yunlin County Farmers University
To enhance agricultural human resources and cultivate agricultural professionals in Yunlin, the Yunlin County Government commissioned the operation of Yunlin County Farmers University beginning in 2010 as a training platform for farmers. The program has reached its ninth cohort. A total of 1,992 farmers have applied over the years, with 1,261 admitted. By the eighth cohort, 858 agricultural managers had been trained. The Farmers University promotes agricultural learning, cultivates interest in farming, enhances agricultural exchanges, improves production technology, strengthens marketing capability, and cultivates modern farmers with contemporary knowledge and skills.
The curriculum adopts the spirit of the German dual apprenticeship training system. Training models are designed according to local conditions for agricultural masters and trainees, with new farmers receiving one year of apprenticeship training. More than 75 county-level agricultural masters have been selected and trained, with training farms located in nearly 20 townships throughout Yunlin County.
(2) Operation of Yunlin County Huwei River Community University
To promote lifelong learning, the Yunlin County Government launched community universities in 2001. Since 2012, Associate Professor Shou Ku Tai has led the project team operating Yunlin County Huwei River Community University. The service area expanded in 2016 from three townships to five townships within the Huwei River watershed. The program integrates the educational values of agricultural sustainability, social participation, and lifelong learning into its courses and activities while empowering rural communities and promoting social innovation.
The community university focuses on revitalizing rural culture, promoting environmentally friendly farming, and advancing food and agricultural education. Currently up to 75 courses are offered each semester with more than 1,400 enrollments.
(3) Golden-Green Label Agricultural and Fishery Product Safety Management Program
Since 2015 the Yunlin County Government has implemented the Golden-Green Label Agricultural and Fishery Product Safety Management Program to promote safe production, ecological sustainability, and consumer protection. Through the Agricultural Capital brand system, farms are categorized into Golden Label and Green Label groups. Golden Label products must contain no detectable pesticide residues, while Green Label products must meet national pesticide residue standards. This initiative enhances the value of Yunlin agricultural products and strengthens consumer confidence.
(4) Ministry of Education University Learning Ecosystem Innovation Project and University Social Responsibility Program
To address agricultural labor shortages and aging labor forces, the center implemented Ministry of Education projects to establish an agricultural apprenticeship dual training system and certification mechanism for agricultural masters. In the short term, an “Agricultural Talent Cloud” matching system was developed to connect agricultural labor supply and demand using cloud management technology.
Agricultural general education courses such as “Rural Life Food Lab” were launched beginning in the second semester of the 2016 academic year to encourage students to enter rural communities and understand local agricultural needs. These courses allow students to experience farming practices and develop innovative ideas for sustainable rural development.
(5) Promotion of the Great Granary Project
Taiwan agriculture faces challenges including labor shortages, aging populations, climate change, and resource depletion. To promote environmentally friendly farming, smart agriculture technology, and circular agricultural systems, the center participates in the Council of Agriculture Great Granary Project and implements the Yunlin Great Granary initiative.
On January 30, 2019, the university signed an industry–academia cooperation memorandum with Taiwan Sugar Corporation to jointly promote the development and management of the Maguang Organic Park in Huwei and advance local agricultural development. Research directions include solar power integration, circular economy technologies such as biogas generation and organic fertilizers, and smart agriculture technology development.
Through years of agricultural talent cultivation and cooperation with local agricultural organizations, the center continues to promote the transformation and upgrading of Yunlin agriculture. By integrating government resources, industry collaboration, and university research capacity, the center aims to drive sustainable agricultural development and strengthen Yunlin’s competitiveness in the global agricultural industry.