Taipei: A group of 16 Australia-bound Young Agricultural Ambassadors was presented with Taiwan's flag by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung at a ceremony in Taipei on Tuesday. Addressing the event, Lin said the ambassadors, selected for their expertise in biotechnology, recreational farming, and organic fertilizers, will have multiple exchanges with Australian agricultural communities during their visit from Nov. 22 to Nov. 30.
According to Focus Taiwan, aside from conducting exchanges on agricultural affairs, the delegation will also visit Australian Indigenous communities and government authorities responsible for Indigenous affairs. Taiwan and Australia share close ties in the agricultural sector, Lin noted, emphasizing the annual agricultural working group meetings held since 2004. The latest meeting, held in Brisbane earlier this year, focused on climate change responses and AI automation.
Speaking during the same event, Australian representative to Taiwan, Robert Fergusson, welcomed the group of young farmers from Taiwan to visit his country. Fergusson highlighted the shared challenges both Australian and Taiwanese farmers face, such as climate change and consumer expectations, and the necessity to stay profitable and productive in a competitive global environment. However, he emphasized the advantages of the ambassadors' generation, including innovative technology.
Fergusson stated, "Whether that is automation or AI or more advanced science, you have tools you can use to help address the challenges you will face." He added that there is much to learn from each other in facing these shared challenges, with both countries united in embracing innovation and technology for a more sustainable agricultural future. He expressed hopes that the Taiwanese delegation will form networks and friendships with their Australian counterparts during the trip.
The government-funded annual Young Agricultural Ambassadors program aims to promote exchanges between Taiwan and 18 countries targeted by the New Southbound Policy. According to MOFA, 138 ambassadors aged 18 to 45 with expertise in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and animal husbandry have traveled to Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, and Thailand since the initiative launched in 2017.
The New Southbound Policy was launched in 2016 under then-president Tsai Ing-wen to expand the country's economic, educational, and cultural links with 10 ASEAN member states, six South Asian countries, Australia, and New Zealand.