In recent years, the government has strived to transform Taiwan’s agricultural industry into quality agriculture. Commerce Development Research Institute (hereafter referred to as CDRI) has also actively assisted the local governments to promote agriculture and fishery transformation through long-term research in logistics, marketing, consumer behavior, management model, e-commerce and service technology. Chairman Hsu Chung-Jen of CDRI, who is hailed as the godfather of the logistics industry in Taiwan, also constantly advocated the need for agricultural transformation and new thinking. He also urged young people to return to farming and inject a breath of fresh air to the Taiwanese agriculture industry.

CDRI visited Changhua County on April 28 to conduct discussions with local peasants and share with them case studies about successful agricultural transformations in Taiwan and abroad. Enthusiastic discussions and exchanges took place at the meeting. The Assistant Director-general of the Department of Agriculture, Changhua County Government Kuo Chih-Shan indicated that Changhua County is blessed with exceptional agricultural environment, and the county government is doing everything it can to promote agriculture industry upgrade. He thanked the CDRI for hosting the agricultural forum to impart farmers in the county with new thinking; by incorporating marketing and innovative management approaches, it is hoped that the CDRI will continue to lend its support in developing agriculture in Changhua County. Furthermore, Executive Secretary of Changhua County Farmers’ Association Liao Chen-Hsien suggested that most participants of the forum are young farmers; therefore, he encouraged them to manage their farms with a business mentality by offering quality food ingredients and developing brands in order to enhance the added values of the products.