Officials from Taiwan and the U.S. participate in the 2023 Taiwan-U.S. Cooperation Meeting on Agricultural Sciences and Technology held March 6 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of COA)
 

The 2023 Taiwan-U.S. Cooperation Meeting on Agricultural Sciences and Technology wrapped up March 6 in Taipei City, spotlighting the like-minded partners’ commitment to boosting reciprocal research ties, according to the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture.

Hosted by COA Deputy Minister Tu Wen-chen and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service administrator Simon Liu, the daylong event focused on ways to strengthen collaboration to achieve net zero carbon emissions in agriculture, resilient forestry, sustainable agriculture and fisheries as well as personnel cultivation and exchanges.

The two sides examined last year’s attainments in areas spanning crop production and protection; livestock health and rearing; natural resources and sustainable agricultural systems; and nutrition, food safety and food quality, the COA said.

According to the COA, during the meeting the council’s Animal Health Research Institute signed memorandums of understanding to become partner members of the Global Foot-and-Mouth-Disease Research Alliance and the Global African Swine Fever Research Alliance.

Such participation reflects international recognition of Taiwan’s accomplishments in animal disease prevention, the COA said, adding that the government will maintain the country’s status as a foot-and-mouth disease-free area while also keeping African swine fever at bay.

Related events include an agricultural net zero carbon emission seminar held March 7-8, in which Liu will share the U.S. experience on applying artificial intelligence to agriculture, as well as a panel scheduled March 9, with U.S. expert Cyril Gay hosting discussions with local research personnel on issues such as animal health care. (YCH-E)