Agriculture is recognized as the prime engine for social development. It is a green industry of simplicity, splendor, and vitality. Moreover, agriculture is a basic energy source to advance various socio-economic sectors. In a drastically changing society, agriculture helps to retain a tranquil and wholesome land with its own unique cultural heritage, rich humanities meanings, and profound environmental concerns. 

After World War II, agriculture has served as an impetus for Taiwan's economic development. In accordance with the policy of "developing industry through agriculture and expanding agriculture through industry," agriculture, in its full force, has mobilized Taiwan's industrialization and advanced the country to the community of developed countries. In recent years, the old glories of agriculture did fade away; however, it has not degenerated into a sunset business. On the contrary, agriculture is actively transforming and upgrading in response to changes in the socio-economic milieu and rural profile. Through improvement in production technologies and development of refined and diversified business management models, superior agri-products and quality agro-environment have met the consumers' needs in all aspects and received international acclaim and attention. Conversely, agriculture has fully displayed its multi-functions in nature conservation, landscape maintenance, soil and water conservation, and forest care. All of these shall contribute, in a small way considering the size of this country, to the mitigation of global climatic changes. In a very tangible way, agriculture provides green energy. For Taiwan, agriculture is being recognized as the most important source of green resources for its sustainable economic development.

However, considering the current trend of globalization and liberalization in the era of knowledge-based economy, Taiwan, like other small-agriculture and net-food-importing countries, is facing many new challenges in its agricultural development. After reviewing the past agricultural policies and prevailing circumstances, the Council of Agriculture, in the spirit of continuity, revision and innovation, has adjusted its agricultural policy and proposed the New Agriculture Movement. This Movement is to re-position the value of agriculture in Taiwan's sustainable development, to re-build the agri-producers' dignity and the consumers' confidence, and to enhance the international competitiveness of agricultural sector. Since its inception in June 2006, the Movement has moved forward various projects such as traceability system of agri-products, compensation for eco-agriculture, Wandervögel project, green corridors, etc. with significant preliminary achievements. Based on these, the Movement will move on with new visions, innovative concepts and new targets. The overall goal is to attract talented agri-producers, to market premium agri-products, to vitalize Taiwan's agriculture, and to create its new future.

I was brought up in the rural village. This gave me a profound understanding of agri-producers' bliss and despair, needs in rural villages, and overall challenges in agriculture. It also forced me to mull over how to improve the living environment of rural villages, to raise the agri-producers' dignity, and to have a sustainable agricultural development. Apart from the policies, the people are the most fundamental factor in the agricultural development. Thus, to have a sustainable agricultural development, the traditional concepts that float in the brain of agri-producers, agricultural policy-makers, and consumers need to be changed. With Taiwan's solid foundations in agriculture, I believe that as long as we can change our mindset in agriculture and support the new agricultural policy, we can advance Taiwan's agriculture into a new horizon with "innovative agriculture," "energetic agri-producers," and "attractive rural villages." In this regard, this report gives the readers an overview on what have been achieved in 2006.

Jia-chyuan Su

Minister, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan

July 2007