Taiwan's agricultural competitiveness took a significant leap forward yesterday as the Council of Agriculture signed an agreement with officials from the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei.
The agreement will strengthen research and development projects related to biotechnology.
Officials from the council and the Canadian Trade Office yesterday signed a Guideline for Scientific Cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Agri-food. Council Vice Chairman Lee Jen-chyun (李健全) and Leonard Edwards, Canada's deputy agriculture minister, witnessed the signing.
Council officials said that the guideline will serve as a platform for future cooperation in agricultural research and innovation between both countries. The collaboration will focus on the protection of plant varieties, utilizing plants for health care and medical purposes, the introduction of genetically modified organisms testing technologies and preventing the spread of infectious diseases that affect livestock and crops.
Council officials said Taiwan should not alienate itself from international scientific research projects. Global cooperation in agricultural production is the first step in dealing with challenges facing the industry in the 21st century. The guideline will be a step in the right direction if Taiwan is ever to reach environmental sustainability, council officials said.
Lin Lih-fang (林麗芳), an official of the Department of International Affairs under the council, told the Taipei Times that the guideline originates from a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation signed with Canadian agricultural officials in 2002 at the and an international working group. That was the year when Canada established trans-departmental teams which sought to promote four major national scientific research projects, including food safety, risk assessment, innovation and renovation, environment and international affairs.
"Through the World Trade Organization, Taiwan and Canada can discuss the marketing of agricultural products. Through the guideline signed today, the cooperative research projects between Taiwan and Canada will be strengthened," Lin said.
The collaboration will involve researchers and scientists from universities, government agencies and the industry.
Lin said that Canada is the second country to sign an agricultural partnership agreement with Taiwan. The US signed one with Taiwan in 1986. That agreement has been revised since then to include up-to-date biotechnological research. The last amendment was in 2001.
In addition to cooperation with advanced countries, Lin said that the council has been working on transferring agricultural technologies to other developing countries in the region, including Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines.
"Based on agreements with developing countries, Taiwan can offer its expertise in agricultural development and training programs of agricultural officials from those countries," Lin said.
In East and Southeast Asia, research on the link between sustainability, agricultural growth, environmental degradation and poverty alleviation are encouraged by international organizations.
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