From organization to implementation, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) require all procurements to account for sustainability while staying economically viable. The concept of sustainability must be incorporated into all procured products and services as a token of social responsibility. As an event anticipated by worldwide athletes, Tokyo 2020 drew thorough planning and bold investment from the Japanese government and private sector. Amid the impact of the ongoing global pandemic, the host nation Japan and the organizing body are determined to carry on with their plan to hold Tokyo 2020 in Tokyo, Japan this year (2021), with the Olympic Games from July to August and the Paralympic Games from August to September. Noteworthily, the organizer set exceptionally high standards for the food ingredients supplied to the Olympic Village; the Sustainable Sourcing Code makes tremendous strides in addressing environmental, social, and economic issues.
Taiwan’s TAP certification system is built on the framework of Taiwan Good Agriculture Practice (TGAP). Producers must follow a set of established procedures and make records of each production step to control the risk involved in agricultural production. Traceability information for each batch is publicly available to ensure full transparency, and third-party certifiers are brought in to provide greater assurance on the safety of the whole process. The TAP system has been a major part of Taiwan’s policy in pursuit of safer and eco-sustainable agriculture.
The AFA indicates that in response to the ever-increasing demand for food safety from consumers, the TAP system continues to proficient itself and seeks conformances with international standards. To that end, enhancements have been made to the existing TGAP standards for key export fruits, namely bananas, pineapples, mangos, and dragon fruits by incorporating food safety standards promulgated by the TOCOG to draft the plus version of TGAP. Aside from attention to food safety, TGAP PLUS is also infused with ideals like environmental sustainability, labor safety, intellectual property protection, and biological diversity maintenance, and thus TGAP PLUS standards for the above fruits have been approved by the TOCOG as in compliance with its lofty sourcing code. With concrete actions to support the cause of the TOCOG for all-around sustainability, Taiwan has shown its commitment to global environmental safety and sustainability in promoting domestic agricultural upgrades.
To engage in the conformance comparison between TGAP PLUS for pineapples, mangos, and dragon fruits and Tokyo 2020 Sustainable Sourcing Code for Agricultural Products, cross-disciplinary experts have been convened to offers assistance since 2020. Special thanks to National Chung Hsing University, Council of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Institute, Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Tainan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Kaohsiung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Taiwan Accreditation Foundation, and other collaborating parties. Their contribution is key to today’s success.
AFA Director-General Hu Jong-I emphasizes that Japan is one of the most important agricultural export destinations of Taiwan. For anyone focusing on the global agricultural market, conformity with Good Agriculture Practice and major certification schemes have become and will remain the primary attribute consumers look for when making a purchase, and certified agricultural products often have prioritized market access. Having international certifications is like owning a driver’s license on the highway of global trade. Thus, the AFA will continue to guide producers to improve their processes and help expand TAP and TGAP PLUS to include more items, building a foundation for Taiwan’s agriculture to compete internationally.
