NDHU Partners with Shen-Nong Award Honoree to Cultivate a Sustainable Hualien
National Dong Hwa University(NDHU)has long been dedicated to promoting sustainable development, consistently receiving recognition in global rankings. With the encouragement and support of President Hui-Mi Hsu, NDHU has collaborated extensively with the Hualien County Government and local farming groups to promote organic agriculture and protect the ecological environment. After years of effort, NDHU's Agricultural Certification and Service Enhancement Center achieved certification from the Taiwan Accreditation Foundation(TAF)in 2024 as an organic product certification body. This makes it the first and currently the only organic certification institution in Eastern Taiwan, allowing local organic crops to be certified within the region, sparing farmers the need to travel long distances and contributing to significant energy savings and carbon reduction.
Hualien County boasts the largest area of organic farming in Taiwan, with the Yin-Chuan Organic Rice Farm covering 340 hectares, making it the largest organic rice-producing region in the country. Yin-Chuan rice is not only renowned for its high-quality organic rice but also actively promotes food and agricultural education, giving back to the community. In 2022, Yin-Chuan's leader, Mei-Chih Liang, was honored as one of the "Top Ten Shen-Nong Farmers" in the 33rd national awards. Their values align closely with NDHU's sustainable development goals, and they have collaborated with NDHU's Center for Sustainable Development and the College of Environmental Studies and Oceanography on several projects.
On October 18th, 2024, Yin-Chuan Rice hosted the "11th Yin-Chuan Organic Life Camp 2024 - Food and Agriculture Education Carnival." Over 20 organizations, including the Yushan National Park Headquarters, the National Park Service, the Ministry of the Interior, the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, the Ministry of Agriculture, Tzu Chi Foundation, and others, participated in the event. Nearly 1,000 teachers and students from local elementary and junior high schools were invited to take part.
NDHU's Center for Sustainable Development recruited 14 volunteers to design a Monopoly-style game based on themes of food and agriculture, nature, and net-zero carbon reduction. The game provided an engaging and educational experience for students, helping them learn about food and agricultural education, carbon neutrality, and net-zero emissions through interactive challenges. At the same time, the students were encouraged to reflect on how they can contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)through practical actions in their daily lives. The participating students were enthusiastic, and the atmosphere was lively and energetic. NDHU, fulfilling its social responsibility as a university, continues to strengthen its connections with local farmers and the Hualien County Government, while planting the seeds of environmental awareness and Earth-friendly values in the hearts of young students.