In response, the MOA has united resources from the Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA), the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), local farmers' associations, and the private sector to foster international collaboration. On September 11, at a signing ceremony held at the Taipei Dome, a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed among the Shin-Sher District Farmers' Association, Japan's Mori & Company, and Taiwan's First Super. The Shin-Sher District Farmers' Association also signed a separate MOU with TARI, formalizing technical cooperation agreements. Through this partnership, Taiwan and Japan will jointly conduct experiments on mushroom cultivation and engage in personnel exchanges, technological collaboration, and outreach initiatives.
Taiwan-Japan Cooperation to Tackle Climate Challenges
The MOA emphasized that Taichung City's Shin-Sher District, which produces 52% of Taiwan's shiitake mushrooms with approximately 108.8 million growing packages, has experienced declining yields and quality due to global warming. Farmers in this major production area, which traditionally enjoyed ideal growing conditions, have reported deteriorating fungal strains, resulting in reduced unit yields and thinner mushroom caps. In an effort to maintain mushroom quality, yield, and farmer profitability, the AFA and TARI have launched the "Smart Agriculture – Pioneering Mushroom Industry" initiative, which focuses on enhancing the entire supply chain, from production to packaging. The collaboration with Japan will further improve mushroom cultivation techniques, upgrade production facilities, and boost technical exchanges.
Following the signing of the MOU, Taiwan and Japan will actively conduct technical exchanges, field trials, and educational programs to improve domestic cultivation techniques. This collaboration aims to enhance production quality, boost international competitiveness, and stabilize farmers' income. Under the collaborative framework with the Shin-Sher District Farmers' Association, TARI will provide expert consultation on fungal strain propagation and technological advancement to strengthen Taiwan's shiitake mushroom industry.
Government Commitment to Industry Upgrading
The Ministry emphasizes that developing climate-resilient mushroom strains is crucial for overcoming current challenges. In addition, agricultural agencies and research institutes are implementing automated, environmentally friendly production facilities and modern cultivation methods. For example, the AFA has helped young farmers in Shin-Sher implement new-generation mushroom demonstration greenhouses with wall-mounted evaporative cooling systems, which have achieved up to six times the yield of traditional methods and better quality through improved temperature control and growing conditions. These innovations, combined with advanced cultivation rooms, effectively improve quality, yields, and production value, ultimately driving the industry's modernization while ensuring sustainable agricultural development in Taiwan.
