Taiwan’s indigenous regions are rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage, and their agricultural systems embody productive, ecological, and cultural values. In response to the challenges posed by climate change, population aging, and cultural erosion, Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture has implemented a program to regain indigenous vitality since 2022. This initiative integrates germplasm conservation and re-cultivation, talent cultivation, ecofriendly farming, value-added industry, and ecological governance to link indigenous agricultural production with environmental conservation efforts. The program facilitates institutional innovation in indigenous agricultural practices. Since its inception, the program has strengthened local germplasm preservation through technological research and development, established 66 participatory conservation sites in collaboration with indigenous communities, and improved crop cultivation and site-appropriate agricultural techniques. The introduction of labor-saving machinery has increased the production efficiency of specialty crops by between 13 and 60 times, and value-added processing technologies for indigenous specialty products have been optimized to develop 59 prototypes through the cultivation of distinctive tribal industries. Moreover, community-based “indigenous vitality schools” have been established, providing training to more than 5,000 local participants. These efforts have grounded technological advances in practice, enhancing agricultural resilience and driving the development of indigenous industries. The present study contextualizes the development of indigenous agricultural practices in Taiwan, synthesizing insights from technological innovation, policy promotion, and community-based practices. This study elucidates how indigenous agricultural practices rooted in traditional knowledge systems have evolved by adopting a model that balances economic development with ecological resilience. Furthermore, this study examines the alignment of this model with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Finally, this study explored the potential and challenges associated with industrializing, sustaining, and internationalizing indigenous agricultural practices. Taiwan’s experiences and policy insights can serve as a valuable model for advancing indigenous agricultural practices across the Asia–Pacific region.
Keywords: indigenous agriculture, knowledge revitalization, sustainable rural development, eco-agriculture, Taiwan
Taiwan’s indigenous regions are rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage, and their agricultural systems embody productive, ecological, and cultural values. In response to the challenges posed by climate change, population aging, and cultural erosion, Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture has implemented a program to regain indigenous vitality since 2022. This initiative integrates germplasm conservation and re-cultivation, talent cultivation, ecofriendly farming, value-added industry, and ecological governance to link indigenous agricultural production with environmental conservation efforts. The program facilitates institutional innovation in indigenous agricultural practices. Since its inception, the program has strengthened local germplasm preservation through technological research and development, established 66 participatory conservation sites in collaboration with indigenous communities, and improved crop cultivation and site-appropriate agricultural techniques. The introduction of labor-saving machinery has increased the production efficiency of specialty crops by between 13 and 60 times, and value-added processing technologies for indigenous specialty products have been optimized to develop 59 prototypes through the cultivation of distinctive tribal industries. Moreover, community-based “indigenous vitality schools” have been established, providing training to more than 5,000 local participants. These efforts have grounded technological advances in practice, enhancing agricultural resilience and driving the development of indigenous industries. The present study contextualizes the development of indigenous agricultural practices in Taiwan, synthesizing insights from technological innovation, policy promotion, and community-based practices. This study elucidates how indigenous agricultural practices rooted in traditional knowledge systems have evolved by adopting a model that balances economic development with ecological resilience. Furthermore, this study examines the alignment of this model with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Finally, this study explored the potential and challenges associated with industrializing, sustaining, and internationalizing indigenous agricultural practices. Taiwan’s experiences and policy insights can serve as a valuable model for advancing indigenous agricultural practices across the Asia–Pacific region.
Keywords: indigenous agriculture, knowledge revitalization, sustainable rural development, eco-agriculture, Taiwan