According to the 2024 "State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World" (SOFI) report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 713-757 million people worldwide faced hunger and needed assistance as of 2023. As World Food Day approaches on October 16th, sectors across society are uniting to address food security and zero hunger initiatives, working together to ensure universal access to healthy diets.
Taiwan's Sustained Commitment to International Food Aid
Taiwan has been providing international humanitarian food aid since 2002. Guided by principles of maintaining domestic food security, respecting international trade protocols, and providing aid without charge, Taiwan partners with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and international non-profit organizations (NGOs) to deliver public rice stocks to regions affected by poverty, hunger, or major disasters. This unwavering commitment has resulted in the distribution of 447,000 metric tons of white rice to 45 countries and regions over the past 22 years. In 2024, the Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA) continues its collaboration with MOFA and NGOs, including the Tzu Chi Foundation, World Vision, and Good Neighbors, to provide 22,000 tons of white rice to 18 countries and regions, strengthening Taiwan's humanitarian engagement and soft power diplomacy.
Maintaining High Quality Standards in Food Aid
The AFA underscores its commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of aid rice. Each year, third-party certification bodies sample pre-processed rice, testing for heavy metals, aflatoxins, and pesticide residues to ensure compliance with food safety regulations. While maintaining the requirement for rice to meet National Grade 3 standards, the AFA has this year focused on optimizing rice milling yield to enhance aid quality and extend its reach to those in need.
The AFA explains that previous milling yield requirements sometimes left residual bran layers due to variations in grain sizes, affecting appearance quality. After careful consideration of stakeholder feedback, the agency revised regulations to adjust milling rates from 87% to 85% for Japonica rice and from 88% to 86% for Indica rice. This adjustment aligns with global standards and ensures that every grain of rice reaching aid recipients is both nutritious and high-quality.
Advancing Taiwan's International Humanitarian Engagement
The AFA emphasizes that international aid extends beyond material assistance—it represents Taiwan's commitment to global solidarity and support. Each shipment of food aid demonstrates Taiwan's dedication to international development. Through enhancing food aid quality, Taiwan strengthens its humanitarian support while advancing global food security and working toward a hunger-free future.
